A 15-year development plan that will turn Ripon into Yorkshire's rural capital of culture has been launched.

The 2020 vision group identified the key areas of culture, tourism, enterprise, learning and community needed to improve the city.

The project has been adopted by Ripon City Council and a group formed to deal with each of the key areas. The aim is to create a 15-year development plan for Ripon, used to attract funding and support for future projects.

Jonathan Beer, the Ripon city manager, said: "This vision has been created by local people who want to see the potential for Ripon further exploited."

At the scheme's launch, Mr Alan Barrell, entrepreneur in residence at Cambridge University, said the scheme's aims would be achieved by:

l emphasising and enhancing Ripon's distinctive culture

l promoting Ripon as a year-round destination

l attracting enterprise

l increasing learning opportunities

l developing community capacity.

Mr Beer said culture was central to the overall vision.

"It is at the heart of what makes Ripon distinctive and special and influences many areas of Ripon's life," he said.

In 2000, Ripon City Partnership launched the Ripon Moving Forward market town regeneration programme. Funding of £2.87m was allocated by Yorkshire Forward. But total investment to date has reached almost £8m thanks to matched funding from the private and public sectors.

The additional investment is 33 per cent higher than forecast, which reflects a confidence by the private sector to invest in Ripon.

The scheme has been credited with creating new jobs. There are now 700 more people employed in the area than three years ago and 17 new businesses have been created.

The Prince of Wales has taken a personal interest in Ripon's regeneration project, visiting the city and hosting meetings in Highgrove House.