Plans to build a £200m biomass power plant near Stockton have been approved by Stockton Borough Council.

Developer Gaia Power said the project would create more than 400 construction jobs.

The facility will be built on the Billington Reach Industrial Estate and will be fuelled by recycled chipped wood, which will produce energy to supply 80,000 homes a year.

The project is set to start in early 2010 with completion due for 2012.