A WAREHOUSE firm’s £23m expansion proves the might of North-East business and why the sector can get even stronger, the Government’s new Northern Powerhouse leader has said.

Vantec Europe is building a 436,000sq ft base in Sunderland, which bosses say will create 120 North-East jobs.

The development, on Hillthorn Business Park, will be the company’s biggest regional site and the largest ever overseas project carried out by its Japanese parent company, Vantec Corporation.

James Wharton, MP for Stockton South, visited the site yesterday (Wednesday, May 20), and told The Northern Echo it was a clear example of the region’s business potential.

Mr Wharton, who is responsible for administering the Conservative’s Northern Powerhouse, which aims to put the North at the forefront of driving the UK economic recovery, added: “The Vantec site is absolutely massive.

“It is great news for the region and an example of what the area can do.

“It shows the confidence of firms and I hope this investment is one of many to come.

“As a Government we are determined to ensure more businesses can thrive across our region.”

Vantec is known for handling storage and distribution of parts for Nissan, and officials say the new site will support the car maker’s continued growth, which will see it add the new Infiniti Q30 hatchback to its production line later this year.

Mr Wharton added: “Vantec is a good example of us creating more jobs, and Nissan is a success story, not just for the company, but for the North-East too.”

Vantec already employs more than 1,000 workers at two existing sites close to Nissan’s Wearside plant.

Its new building, complete with office space, is expected to be finished in December, with recruitment due to start in early 2016.

It will give Vantec, which also works with Darlington engine maker Cummins, nearly a million square foot of space in the region.

The site has received backing from Sunderland City Council and the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, with the latter supplying support from its North East Investment Fund.

See next week’s Jobs and Business supplement for more on James Wharton’s plans for the Northern Powerhouse.