A GOVERNMENT minister has agreed to open the door for employment opportunities on a potential development site.

Planning Minister Sally Keeble will reinstate 1,000 acres of land west and north-west of Nissan and bounded by the A1231 parkway, Leamside Lane, in Sunderland, in the region's planning framework. The decision means the area will receive support from the Association of North-East Councils and other regional bodies.

A technical appraisal of the site, which is owned by several people, has found it suitable for development.

Representations on its future will be invited over a 12-week period.

Sunderland City Council's chief executive, Colin Sinclair, said: "This is a hugely important development that opens the door on new employment opportunities.

"Sunderland council has always seen this land as vital - not just for the development of the city, but for the region as a whole.

"Our aim will be to ensure the proposals for this site are high quality investments to enable us to create clusters of new business."

Mr Sinclair estimated the site would create thousands of jobs.

Leader of Sunderland council, Councillor Colin Anderson, said: "This is a very exciting announcement.

"Sunderland council has already proved it can undertake successful, high quality, and prestigious developments in the city. We will be doing everything we can to help prepare the land for future employers."