WORK on a new science and technology park in County Durham will start this month after the final hurdles for the development were cleared.

The Council of the University of Durham has approved the location of two university technology projects in a dedicated building on the NetPark site, near Sedgefield village.

Planning permission has been granted for the building to house what will be known as The NetPark Institute.

Councillor Ken Manton, leader of Durham County Council, which provided the building for the institute, welcomed the decisions.

He said: "After what, to some, may have seemed a long gestation, these two decisions signal the start of a new phase in the reshaping of the county's economy.

"For too long now the county has been dependent on branch-plant manufacturing as the mainstay of its business economy.

"But we must look to the future, and for County Durham the future lies in building our own economy founded on the technologies of the 21st Century.

"NetPark will be the catalyst for this change and now our plans and aspirations are finally to become reality."

Work on the institute is due to start later this month, with a projected completion date of February 2004.

Professor John Anstee, pro vice-chancellor and sub-warden of the University of Durham and a member of the NetPark Steering Group, said: "We are delighted to initiate this exciting and innovative development which offers the opportunity to engage more extensively with business across the whole region."

Richard Prisk, regeneration manager for Sedgefield Borough Council said: "We will be placing NetPark at the heart of our economic strategy and working hard to ensure that local people and businesses can benefit from the opportunity presented by this exciting new venture based on the application of new technologies."

One of the first projects at NetPark will be the Centre for Advanced Instrumentation (CfAI), which uses advanced technology to improve the quality of astronomical imaging and observation.

Another initial scheme is the Digital Enterprise Technology (DET) project which updates industry on developments in computer modelling, graphics and information management.