PLANS to build industrial premises in Sunderland that could support up to 300 jobs have been brought forward.

Rivergreen Developments plc is building a £3m industrial scheme on the former Brown factory site at Pallion.

Phase one of the project is nearly complete, and work has started to provide extra production units on the site.

When completed, eight factories will provide 85,000sq ft of industrial space.

Peter Candler, managing director of Rivergreen Developments, said: "We have already attracted the first occupier for the phase one units and bringing forward our plans for the rest of the site is a huge vote of confidence in the Pallion scheme.

"The units have the flexibility to accommodate a wide range of potential uses and there has been substantial interest from businesses interested in locating on the site."

The scheme is one of the first elements of the Sunderland Area Regeneration Company's plans for the city to come to fruition.

Chief executive Tom Macartney said: "If we are to achieve our ambitions to boost jobs, it is vital that we are able to provide the high quality, flexible accommodation that modern business-users require, and these units fulfil that purpose precisely."

Published: 10/08/2004