A £10m retail development in an unemployment blackspot could create up to 200 jobs.

Architects Browne Smith Baker (BSB), which has offices in Newcastle, Darlington, Leeds and Hull, has designed the shopping centre in Seaham, County Durham.

Byron Place Shopping Centre has already secured retailers Asda and Wilkinsons as tenants.

And Manchester developer Modus Properties is in talks with several other high street names.

Once Byron Place, which includes a supermarket, 12 retail units and a cafe, is fully let, it will provide jobs for about 200 retail workers.

Developers will also provide premises, designed by BSB, for the Seaham Angling Club and Seaham Scouts, who are moving out of their former bases to make way for the development, in Church Street.

Work will start on Byron Place in February and is due for completion in March 2007.

Nick Watson, associate at BSB, said: "We are hoping that the development will act as a catalyst for further regeneration in the town.

"At the moment, half the shops in Seaham are boarded-up and there is no large food retailer, so it's great that Asda is on board.

"The land was acquired by regional development agency One NorthEast and there was a competition to find who could secure the retailers and get the most out of the land."

Published: 13/09/2005