UP to 400 public sector jobs are to be relocated to a new site after councillors gave the go-ahead for a new headquarters for its own workforce.

Members of Durham County Council's planning committee voted yesterday to grant planning permission for a single site headquarters for Service Direct on Meadowfield Industrial Estate, in Durham City.

Service Direct, which comprises the authority's blue collar workforce, currently operates from two sites - a headquarters depot at Framwellgate Moor, on the outskirts of Durham City, and a smaller site, including offices and depot, at Tindale Crescent, in Bishop Auckland.

Yesterday's decision will allow the body to move all its operations onto the six-hectare site which was the former Mackay's Carpet Factory, which closed last year. The two existing sites are likely to be sold for redevelopment.

Officials said that the site would have room for up to 400 staff, and would also provide storage and workshop areas, vehicle-washing facility, a store for road salt and a fuelling station, with room for expansion and a 245-space car park.

Concerns were raised about increased traffic flow in and out of the estate due to the extra 1,400 vehicle movements a day, including more than 400 commercial vehicle movements.

Brandon and Byshottles Parish Council also raised concerns that increased traffic would cause problems at the already-busy junction with the A690.

However, planning officials said the traffic situation would be monitored and the application was given the go-ahead.