THE first two buildings on Darlington's newest business park have been completed.

The office space at Morton Palms, Yarm Road, is expected to become home to about 1,500 jobs once occupied.

The two blocks, together providing 71,000 sq ft of space with 245 parking places, have been built by Metnor Construction.

The buildings, with glass facade and atrium, both have broadband links, are air-conditioned and comply with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

Developer City and Northern has invested £10m to the project and, working with site owners Darlington Borough Council, One NorthEast has invested £2.5m.

The joint agents for the 28-acre site, King Sturge and Sanderson Weatherall, have reported a high level of interest, with a national household name in talks to acquire one of the two buildings.

Jonathan Sykes, partner in charge of King Sturge's Newcastle office, said: "This is one of the best schemes in terms of quality and location in the whole of the North-East region.

"Morton Palms is widely regarded as the prime new office location in the Tees Valley, and that's not just the opinion of those of us who are working to promote it.

"As well as the top specification build quality, the business park has easy access to the A19, A1 and A66, close proximity to Durham Tees Valley Airport and the main East Coast inter city railway."

Christine Smith, deputy chairman at One NorthEast, said: "Darlington is a key strategic location for the economy of the North-East, and I believe that the town, and the Morton Palms site in particular, will play a major part in the ongoing regeneration of the region."