A CHARTERED surveyor has been chosen to lead efforts to enhance tourism and improve the regeneration of the region.

John Holmes will leave his post as project director at Newcastle Great Park to take charge of One NorthEast's regeneration and tourism directorate.

The 49-year-old was born in County Durham and has worked on redevelopment and housing programmes across the country.

In the late-1980s, he was seconded to the government's inner city directorate, and helped appraise development grants for multi-million pound schemes such as the Victoria Docks development, in Hull, and the Perry Barr retail centre, in Birmingham.

During his time as project director with the Tyne and Wear Development Corporation, he oversaw the establishment of the Royal Quays development, in North Shields, North Tyneside, and the establishment of the Centre for Life facility in Newcastle.

Mr Holmes, who is married with two grown-up children, said: "My roots are in County Durham, and the opportunity to work in such a regional role at One NorthEast was very attractive.

"My background in projects across the North-East and network of contacts should allow me to hit the ground running. It is particularly appealing to be able to work on the regeneration agenda, working closely with the urban regeneration companies that are helping to redefine the North-East."

In his role at Newcastle Great Park over the past two years, he has helped implement a plan to develop the 1,200-acre site for business, residential and commercial use.

The park is expected to create more than 16,000 jobs, and about 2,500 houses will be built there over the next decade.