OWNERS of a former cement works set to become a ground-breaking eco-village hope to make another announcement about a new business wanting to the move to the site soon.

Yesterday’s revelation that Cluff Geothermal have singed a deal with Lafarge to extract naturally hot water from 3km below the ground at the former Weardale Works in County Durham was hailed as a boost to plans for a renewable energy village.

The village near Eastgate comprising homes business units and leisure facilities which could create up to 350 jobs was given outline planning permission in June last year.

The project has faltered however after a £1m grant from regional development agency One North East became a victim of Govenrment cuts.

Now Lafarge say they are expecting another announcement soon about another business wanting to move to the site which closed as a cement work sin 2002.

Lloyd McInally, Lafarge’s project manager said: “We are always keen to hear from companies interested in locating in the Renewable Energy Village and we hope that it will not be too long before we can make a significant announcement in that respect. “The inclusion of Cluff Geothermal in the project has added to the range of users that might now be attracted to the site. “There will significant heat generated by the geothermal electricity generation process, energy that we do not want to see wasted. “We want to find companies and operations that can make good use of this cheap, green energy.

“It will add another fascinating dimension to the Renewable Energy Village.”

The company also hopes to have more news soon about a biomass system which, along with the hot water drilled by Cluff, will be used to create electricity.

When completed, the eco-village will use all five forms of land-based renewable energy including wind, solar and hydro.

County councillor for Weardale John Shuttelworth said: “This is something positive which will hopefully see job opportunities forthcoming after nine years of promises.”