THE company behind a big retail development has pledged to create a regional beauty spot on 58 acres of adjacent land.

London and Amsterdam has started work on the £40m Dalton Park development, on the reclaimed Dalton Flatts spoil heap, next to the former Murton Colliery.

Due to open in March, it is being heralded as a major step in the area's regeneration, creating hundreds of jobs.

Sportswear company Adidas will be the flagship tenant, opening its biggest UK retail outlet on the site.

It will be joined by women's designer clothing line Joseph, high street fashion chain Pilot, jewellers Chapelle, home furnishing firm Ponden Mill, and shoe retailer Stead and Simpson.

In addition to the centre, which will also include restaurants and leisure facilities, London and Amsterdam has pledged to develop 58 acres of land next to the site.

Joint managing director, Ben Rainsford, said it would form a key part of the development.

"This was our idea. We decided to create parkland at the back because we cannot really develop on the old spoil heap," he said.

"We thought that rather than let it lie, we would create a nice parkland with sculptures, art, trees and water.

"There will be lots of trees and lots of green grass,.

"A large lake with public art is being designed, and there are illustrations in the marketing suite on site."

Mr Rainsford said he hoped the park would become an attraction in its own right.

"We have taken onboard a large area of land and we have a social commitment to local people," he said.

"If we can create a real regional park, people will come for miles around to see it, whether they come to the shops or not."

At a meeting of Easington District Council on Thursday, councillors are expected to vary planning permission for the development to allow more time for the parkland plans to be finalised.