PLANS have been drawn up to limit disruption and offer incentives for people to continue visiting Ripon during work on a £15m redevelopment scheme.

The work, to reclaim derelict land west of the market place, is due to start on June 25 and expected to take 21 months.

It will create a 20,000sq ft supermarket, four shops, 21 apartments and a 180-space car park, linked to the city centre by walkways on to Market Place West and Fishergate and by a new road, costing £950,000, from Blossomgate and Coltsgate Hill.

Anthony Blackburn, of the city's business association, admitted that people were concerned about disruption, but said: "As local businessmen our aim is to keep it business as usual."

Mr Blackburn said temporary alternative parking arrangements were being made to replace spaces lost during the redevelopment, and the southern end of the market place had been opened up for parking.

Anyone spending £5 or more in stores taking part in an incentive scheme will also be able to claim two hours' free parking.

Mr Blackburn said: "It is an area that has been neglected for a long time and the project will bring exciting business opportunities."

Neil Ward, project manager of Maple Grove Developments, which is working on the scheme, said Harrogate Borough Council, North Yorkshire County Council and the business association had devised a traffic flow plan to get people around the city as quickly and easily as possible.

City mayor Andrew Williams said: "The redevelopment is tremendous news for our historic city."