Up to 70 new jobs could be created in the next three years thanks to an innovative office development approved last week which supporters say shows Mid Devon is truly “open for business”.

A new phase of development is now set to begin at Swallow Court close to junction 27, incorporating a building which will meet the most efficient environmental standards.

The development’s first tenants will be a marine security company which works internationally which needs to accommodate its rapidly growing workforce.

PVI has been at Swallow Court since 2010 and has grown from employing three people to more than 50 in that short space of time.

The firm has grown so quickly it now occupies close to 50 per cent of the space at the current Swallow Court buildings.

The new building is two storeys high; with a ground floor providing training rooms and office accommodation with open-plan office space and meeting rooms on the first floor.

Landowner David Disney, who developed the Swallow Court office project, said he was excited by the sustainable aspects of the building’s design created by award-winning architects Gale and Snowden.

He said: “This building will set standards at the world level. This building knocks some 70 per cent off the energy demand for a typical 75-people office. By the year 2090 it could save some £3m a year in energy costs.”

The planned building will not have heating or air conditioning systems but will incorporate passive cooling methods.

Mr Disney said the jobs that the development would create would include “highly trained high value personnel and graduate posts available to local people”.

The plans were approved at a meeting of Mid Devon District Council’s planning committee last Wednesday.

Councillors welcomed the proposals with Cllr Heather Bainbridge declaring that following a site visit that morning, she thought this was “one of the most exciting things we have had before us in a long time”.

Cllr Kevin Wilson said the design was “fresh and exciting” and he loved the look of the building.

Cllr Dennis Knowles said he was pleased that such an international firm wanted to commit its future to Mid Devon.

A spokesman for the company said: “PVI has been at Swallow Court for a little over two years and in that time has expanded from three people to more than 50 today.

“The Disneys have been supportive and flexible landlords which has assisted us with this growth, and the Swallow Court location works extremely well for us, offering excellent transport links and a considerable pool of talent to meet our current and future recruitment needs.”

Mr Disney praised the district council for what he described as a new attitude to business, by “delivering on a promise to put business and employment first.”