PLANS to develop the Willow Beck Road site in Northallerton were given the go-ahead by the planning committee on Thursday of last week.

Hambleton District Council development control committee approved two separate applications to develop land either side of the Willow Beck Road junction.

The application by Wm Morrison's Supermarkets is for two 20,000sq ft non-food retail units which will sell electrical and household goods, furniture, floor coverings, car accessories and bicycles.

The application is identical to one by Safeway which was deferred in 2004 for further consideration of highway issues.

A separate application by Rokeby Developments Northern is for a 25,000sq ft building with a 10,000sq ft mezzanine floor, with an additional 8,000sq ft garden centre. DIY retailer Homebase is due to be moving in to the finished development.

The application was originally submitted in October 2002, modified in November 2003 and deferred with the Morrison's application in June 2004.

Since then, there have been several alterations to the plans, including the inclusion of landscaping at the front of the development.

Moreover, Rokeby has offered to pay £35,000 towards a piece of public art to stand on the corner of High Street and Willow Beck Road as a landmark for the town.

In respect to both sites, the Highways Agency has recommended modifications to the Willow Beck Road junction as well as a pelican crossing in High Street and various yellow boxes and markings.

In addition, traffic lights where Quaker Lane meets High Street may be considered necessary at a later date.

Some councillors still had concerns about the extra traffic that would be generated by the new development.

Coun David Webster said that he was concerned that the addition of lights may cause a car to get stuck on the train tracks if the barriers closed suddenly when the lights were on red.

Coun John Coulson said he wanted to see the area developed, but there needed to be investment in the road network as well. "We are over-capacity, let's face facts. We have got serious problems in that end of town."

He said he would like to see a railway bridge to replace the level crossing.

North Yorkshire County Council's development control team leader Pam Johnson said that a bridge, which would cost about £5m, was not financially feasible at the moment.

Coun David Smith agreed that the traffic situation was strained but still felt the Morrison's proposal should be approved.

"This has been going on since 1996 and we are no further forward. Yet people in this part of town are crying out for something to be done.

"If it is not accepted on traffic grounds, then nothing can be accepted on traffic grounds, here or at the next site."

After 57 minutes of debate, the Morrison's proposal was granted outline planning permission and the Rokeby plans were also approved.

A public inquiry had been scheduled for May after Morrison's appealed against the earlier deferral. After the committee meeting, a spokesman said the company would no longer pursue the appeal in light of the decision.