A MULTI-MILLION pound scheme to transform part of the banks of the River Tyne and create hundreds of jobs has been given planning permission.

The Point, a £28m project by UK Land Estates, will comprise of office blocks and a hotel, as well as retail, leisure and restaurant facilities.

Work on the site, on the Gateshead side of the High Level Bridge, is expected to begin early next year.

The Point, which is designed by award-winning architects Faulkner Browns, will offer five individual office buildings, ranging from 4,000sq ft to 113,000sq ft.