REGIONAL development agency One NorthEast is moving moving headquarters this week.

Nearly 300 staff previously housed in three buildings across Newcastle and Gates-head will be brought together at Stella House on the banks of the River Tyne.

The headquarters is situated on the Newburn Riverside development, the site of the former Stella North Power Station and Anglo Great Lakes graphite works.

The building occupies a four-acre site and has already won a coveted environmental award, taking the top grading in the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method awards because of the reduced impact it will have on the environment.

Features incorporated into the building include using solar power in the heating system and recycling rainwater to flush toilets.

One NorthEast chief executive Mike Collier said: "The move into a new headquarters will allow staff greater face-to-face contact, cut down on unnecessary travel between offices and provide quality facilities for both staff and visitors alike."

The agency is keeping its office at Belasis Hall Technology Park, in Billingham.

One NorthEast is the first major employer to move on to Newburn Riverside. A further 100,000sq ft of office space has been developed with 69,000sq ft of industrial accommodation also completed. In total, the land has the potential to attract £116m worth of private sector investment and up to 5,000 jobs.