A united North East front at key conference

INVESTMENT opportunities in the North East worth £14bn are to be showcased at the UK's biggest property event today.

- GRAEME WHITFIELD

North East mayor Kim McGuinness will use the UK REiiF conference in Leeds to launch the North East Investment Prospectus. The prospectus outlines a portfolio of investment opportunities that could help create thousands of jobs in offshore energy, advanced manufacturing, creative industries, life sciences, digital, defence and space.

A total of 23 industrial, commercial and residential development sites are in the document, adding up to more than 18m square feet.

The region's seven councils have worked with the North East Combined Authority and consultants Arup to identify the sites ahead of today's launch of the North East Pavilion at UK REiiF. The document also highlights the North East Investment Zone, where the combined authority is providing £160m to support private sector investment and create 4,000 jobs over the next decade.