THE potential for 1,400 jobs has been created with the sale of land in Newport. Property group Rombourne plans a £20m development on four acres at Langstone it has bought from Wilson Bowden Developments.

The Cardiff- based property business has an option on an additional two acres on the site at Langstone Business Village.

The land is ideally situated near the junction of the M4, A48 and A449. The site is currently a mix of business and residential, development.

The Hilton Hotel is to the west of the site and firms such as Alcatel and Ubiquity Software are also in the area.

Rombourne development director Chris Hitchings said: "The site is perfect for businesses which want to be close to the main arterial routes into and out of South Wales. "The north of the site is the A449 which links to the Midlands and the north of England while to the south is the M4 which goes to the heart of the south east."

Mr Hitchins described the multi-million pound scheme as an "exciting opportunity". He said: "Our vision is to produce a first-class business environment which will provide Newport with offices for inward investors and its expanding indigenous companies. The completed scheme will have a final value of around £20m."

Rombourne says the development will offer 140,000 sq ft of high specification offices with accommodation for 1,400 people.

Rombourne managing director Dennis Donovan said: "This acquisition shows that we have great faith in the economy of the South Wales and south west areas."

Mr Donovan said the purchase was the third in the past six months and follows the acquisition of a development site in Wentloog which it is calling Eastern Approach and another site in Bristol.

Newport county borough council cabinet member for the economy John Jenkins said: "This is another positive initiative which is helping to create a prosperous future for Newport.

"We are working with our partners in the public and private sectors to ensure that the local economy is strong and that the right circumstances are created which will help to attract new, long term, secure employment opportunities for people in Newport and the Valleys."