A BUSINESS village will be built on the edge of a Spennymoor industrial estate creating jobs and supporting existing companies.

The development to the north of Green Lane Industrial Estate will provide office space for about a dozen businesses.

It will also include a shop, financial and professional services, a children's nursery and a two-storey car park.

Yesterday, the scheme, by Wellsprings Ltd, of Durham, was approved by Sedgefield Borough Council's development control committee.

Members also approved the detailed plans for 12 business units, the first of two phases of construction on the site. The buildings will be made of timber, render, stone, glass and green roofs coated with sedum plants, which it is said will have environmental benefits and blend into the landscape.

While councillors welcomed the economic and jobs boost the complex will bring to the borough, they voiced concerns about its impact on the already congeste A167 and York Hill roads.

Councillor Agnes Armstrong said: "We already have major traffic problems, at peak times.

"Those roads are gridlocked and York Hill Road is very narrow."

Development control manager Andrew Farnie told the committee that planning officers, Durham County Council's highways department and the developers had lengthy discussions to devise conditions to tackle the traffic problem.

Councillor Ron Patchett said: "There are always conflicting issues - new jobs and business investment bring traffic, we cannot push them away from the area."

Cabinet member for regeneration Councillor Kester Noble said: "I welcome this much- needed investment and the jobs after years of jobs seeping away from the town and borough over the years."

Members agreed that the second stage of building could not go ahead until Durham County Council has outlined how it will improve the local road infrastructure.

That work could include the installation of traffic lights at Thinford roundabout and improvements to the A688/Enterprise Way roundabout.

York Hill Road, on which a fire station is planned, will be widened and footpaths installed to improve safety and encourage people to walk to bus stops.