"It will provide modern, adaptable retail space to suit all kinds of potential tenants and it has the advantage of being accessible by public transport, car and on foot.

"We want to create a new focus for Front Street. Once this was the gateway to the steelworks, the main focus for the whole town, then it led nowhere. Now it is once again leading into a rejuvenated leisure quarter, with the Hermiston Retail Park, Morrisons, Derwentside College and the planned new sports centre. This development will help fill one of the last gaps between Genesis Way and Albert Road."

The new building has been designed in a clean, contemporary style with maximum use of glass to let in natural light. It is being constructed by Mansell, the company that built Northern Foods and the Consett Innovation Centre, as well as The Chequers in Templetown, a new housing development by Dysart's residential division.

"This is a big boost to the town centre, helping to further our ambition to attract big name retailers," says Cllr Alex Watson, leader of Derwentside Council and a Project Genesis board member. "The Trafalgar Square development has shown that people will do their shopping in Consett, but we need to keep making things better if we want to maintain the momentum and make the town even more popular.

The new units are just across the road from Morrisons, close to Woolworths, Matalan, Storey Carpets and Somerfield, providing everything you could need for a weekly shop or a leisurely weekend stroll.

GVA Lamb & Edge has been appointed as marketing agent for the development, call (0191) 261 2361 for further information.