Whether a firm is just starting out or is well established with plans to expand, choosing the right premises with the correct address is crucial.

Major investment and regeneration is taking place right across our region, fuelling a growth in world-class business parks and offices.

As well as office space, the region's rich mix of industrial sectors means there is also demand for other types of accommodation, such as warehouses, laboratories and factories.

Investment Plan

Wynyard Park is one such location enjoying expansion.

Formerly home to electronics giant Samsung, the site has since attracted £150m of private investment and from a site with three empty manufacturing buildings, more than 700,000sq ft of high quality accommodation has been developed with more than 500 people working there.

Plans are under way for the long-term development of the business park with the green light given to a £450m investment plan at the site - which could create 10,000 jobs.

The project is designed to anticipate demand for premises over the next 15 to 20 years and will see the creation of three million square feet of office space.

A 2,000 home eco-village is also set to be developed.

At Durham Tees Valley Airport a £110m industrial development is to generate around 2,000 jobs.

The Skylink estate will comprise predominantly large-scale industrial and distribution centres on a 250-acre site to the south of the airport.

15-Acre Site

In Stockton Rokeby Developments' Surtees Business Park has been hugely successful.

Companies moving to the site have included engineering giant Aker Solutions - which has already said it is expanding its base at the site.

Rokeby is now submitting a planning application for a final 40,000sq ft third phase of Surtees and work is expected to begin in early 2009.

It will then switch its attention to a 15-acre site just half-a-mile away at the Preston Farm site on The Queen Elizabeth Way where it is working up plans for a 200,000sq ft business park.

Hi-Tech Office Complex

But businesses are demanding far more than just a clean, functional place to work.

With climate change a key corporate issue, there is a growing demand for eco friendly developments.

The Student Loans Company has moved into Darlington's Lingfield Point development - where its operations are grasping the green agenda.

The hi-tech office complex, which handles all aspects of student finance for the whole of England, is a low energy, state-of-the-art office building with a raft of environmental and energy saving features - ranging from solar heated hot water to gas powered airconditioning which will cost 50% less than electricity.

Green Technologies

And further development is planned for Lingfield Point. A major planning application has now been submitted by owners Marchday to Darlington Council for the ambitious £100m eco-friendly scheme, which will complete the regeneration of the site.

The new development will make extensive use of green technologies such as solar power, rainwater harvesting and installation of a combined heat and power plant.

Existing buildings, including the former power station, will also be re-used.