people moving into the area and we're very pleased to be playing a part in the rebirth of the former steelworks site. "The restaurant will be quite unlike anything seen in Consett before and will cater for all kinds of people, being family friendly during the day and a little more intimate in the evening. It is very close to the town centre and Derwentside College, as well as being next door to the proposed new sports centre, which should all attract more people to the area.

Mr Fanelli, 46, was born in southern Italy and worked in Milan and Rome, before moving to the UK. In 1978, he founded the iconic Flying Pizza restaurant in Roundhay, Leeds, which is still a favoured haunt of the city's rich and famous.

"We were delighted to sign up Mr Fanelli for this venture, which will be a welcome addition to the amenities available in Consett, " says Morris Muter, managing director of Project Genesis. "It was felt that we needed something more distinctive than another franchised restaurant to occupy this prime site and Fanelli's fitted the bill perfectly."

Expected to open in 2007, Fanelli's will be instantly recognisable thanks to the distinctive rounded copper roof at the front of the building.