ONE of the region's largest property developers has won a contract at Newcastle International Airport.

Property investment and development company UK Land Estates has won the tender for the £100m Southside expansion which, once completed, is expected to create 2,500 jobs.

The 80-acre site will include an apron, freight and aircraft maintenance facilities, 450,000sq ft of warehousing and up to 100,000sq ft of office space. It is the largest development undertaken by UK Land Estates, which specialises in the development of brownfield sites.

Michael Spriggs, managing director, said: "We are delighted to have been named as the developer of the Southside site after beating bids from national and international developers.

"We are looking forward to working closely with the airport, as well as generating over 2,500 jobs for the region."