MOVES to pave the way for a long-awaited start on a £10m redevelopment plan have been agreed.

A semi-derelict site west of Ripon Market Place is set to become a Booth's supermarket, shops, 36 flats and parking for almost 200 cars.

While work is under way it will mean the loss of a parking site, but Harrogate Borough Council has agreed some measures to compensate for lost spaces.

Councillor Julian Sturdy, the cabinet member for public works, has approved temporary relocation of the coach park from Victoria Grove to Ripon Auction Mart, making Victoria Grove into a four hour maximum stay car park with a single charge and providing a coach pick-up and drop-off area adjacent to Moss's Arcade.

Cash to pay for the changes will be taken from a budget set aside for parking provision in Ripon.

Recently, the council voted to press ahead with a compulsory purchase order for the new development.

This happened after some landowners were said to be causing potential delay to the scheme.