ABOUT 200 jobs will be created by a national company’s new base in Sheppey.

Ambitious development plans for Queenborough and Rushenden have taken a giant step forward with news that Neats Court has attracted its first major employer.

And the new Sheppey Crossing is being hailed as the incentive behind the move.

The South East England Development Agency is celebrating the fact supermarket giant Aldi has pledged to build a regional headquarters and distribution centre.

The development provides the funding for the first section of the Rushenden link road.

The deal follows the signing of an agreement between SEEDA and the Crown Estate, which owns the Neats Court area and is actively supporting the regeneration and re-development plans.

Nick Young, SEEDA senior development executive, said: "These are major milestones in the regeneration project. The creation of about 200 jobs will be a huge boost to the local economy and will kick-start the project."

Greg Macdonald, chief executive of Swale Forward, said: "This is excellent news for Sheppey. The new crossing has opened up opportunities for the island, and Aldi’s decision to invest here is a very positive start to the job creation that Queenborough and Rushenden, and the rest of Swale, will see over the coming years."