UP TO 1,000 jobs could be created with the re-development of a one-time North-East landmark that has become a run-down and badly vandalised office block.

Planning officials are already backing the moves to redevelop the former ICI offices, known as Billingham House, and car park for new office development has been approved.

Billingham House is a nine storey office building, which was built in the 1950s, but has been progressively vacated between 1992 and 1995.

In 1998, permission was granted to use the building as a call centre, but this was never implemented.

Over the past couple of years the building has been vandalised and has taken on a neglected and rundown appearance.

Now, the building will be partially demolished and five two-storey office blocks will be built.

A report to Stockton Borough Council's planning committee said: "The development will bring about significant inward investment as well as helping to alleviate current adverse problems arising from the run down and derelict appearance of the site.

"It is estimated up to 1,000 jobs could be created by the full development."

Neil Ethrington, chief executive of the Tees Valley Development Comany yesterday welcomed the news. He said: "Until the jobs are actually secured we will not count our chickens, but it will be a welcome addition to the area and hopefully it will complement the existing re-developments at nearby Teesdale."

At present the site is detracting from efforts to regenerate the area. Part of these regeneration initiatives includes a multi-million pound investment by neighbouring Avecia to develop a new biotech facility. This development will create more than 300 jobs.

Harry Davies, chairman of Billingham Regeneration Partnership's town centre sub-committee, said: "We welcome this news. It is a massive victory for the town with the number of jobs that are going to be created in the area.

"It will certainly take away what is at the moment a source of great trouble with all the vandalism.

""It will certainly improve the appearance of that part of the town and will create a lot of interest as it is such a big investment.

"It is a massive boost for the economy in the area."