A £27.8m office development with the potential to create up to 1,100 jobs has been completed.

The Lighthouse View scheme, at Dawton Business Park, Seaham, comprises three separate office blocks, one of which is used as a call centre for the Department of Work and Pensions.

Phase two and three of the development comprises a 40,000 sq ft office, with room for 400 workers, and a 70,000 sq ft office, which could house 700 staff.

Colin Davidson, associate director of agents DTZ, acting on behalf of developers Grantside Developments, said the buildings were best suited to call centre and outsourcing companies.

"Our target market is footloose UK companies which don't have to be in any one place and so look essentially for a high quality building in a location where staff costs are low, there is a good available workforce, good housing and good transport links," he said.

York-based Grantside Developments is hoping that the sea views and close proximity to the A19 will attract new tenants quickly.

Company director, Steve Davis, said: "The development's ultimate selling point has to be its dramatic sea views of the east Durham coastline which you can enjoy whilst you work."