REGIONAL Development Agency One NorthEast is on course to pass key targets crucial in boosting the region's economy.

Provisional results for the year to March 31 reveal the agency is likely to exceed its goals for creating and safeguarding jobs, creating or attracting businesses and developing brownfield land sites. The figures reveal that the development agency created or safeguarded about 7,490 jobs against a target of 7,449, and helped to establish 590 businesses against a target of 406.

The development agency also beat its target for learning opportunities, creating more than 19,300 against a target of 18,014.

In terms of land reclaimed, 130 hectares of brownfield sites were reclaimed against a target of 117.

One NorthEast is awaiting approval for its next three-year corporate plan from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), which will deliver hundreds of millions of pounds to the region.

Approval of the plan will allow One NorthEast to pump more money than ever into projects at grassroots levels across the region, benefiting local people and businesses.

The schemes have been put forward to the regional development agency by its sub-regional partnerships in the Tees Valley, County Durham, Tyne and Wear and Northumberland.

One NorthEast chief executive Mike Collier said: "We are delighted that we are likely to exceed our key targets which are crucial to the economic well-being of the region.

"One NorthEast has a proven track record of meeting its goals and we are determined to continue this into the new financial year."

He said: "Of course, there is still much work to be done to help the North-East close disparities with other parts of England and we will continue to work closely with our partners to achieve this."