FUNDING obtained from developers as part of planning applications could be used to finance £1.8m of improvements to leisure and sports facilities.

Hambleton District Council has earmarked £862,000 for projects in Northallerton, Thirsk, Stokesley and Easingwold.

The money, which comes from agreements made between developers and the council, can be used to provide funding for community schemes.

Hambleton council is planning to use the money to pay for part of a series of projects, with the remaining costs met by the authority.

In Northallerton, the main focus is on Hambleton Leisure Centre, with £184,000 from developers being set aside to extend the gymnasium and pay for new fitness equipment for local teenagers.

Steve Quartermain, the council's director of planning and environmental services, said it was vital that the leisure centre improved its facilities for the wider community, to retain existing customers and attract new ones.

At Thirsk Swimming Pool, a £400,000 project has been planned to convert the gymnasium into a multi-purpose studio, build a new gymnasium and improve changing and shower facilities.

It would be paid for by £236,676 of developers' money, £126,000 of council funding and a £36,000 grant.

The gym at Stokesley Leisure Centre would be increased in size by 50 per cent as part of a £160,000 scheme designed to attract more customers, including disabled people. It would be funded by £153,000 of developers' money and £7,000 from council funds.

The largest project is planned for Easingwold, where discussions to build a sports hall have been ongoing for a number of years.

If the facility was built at the Galtres Centre, it would cost more than £1m. The council has proposed a one-off grant of £332,000, plus £288,000 of developers' money, which leaves a £150,000 shortfall. That would be met by reducing the costs of the project, grants and allocating future developers' funding.

The council's cabinet will be asked to back the schemes on Monday.