FRESH plans by the Forestry Commission to build a multi-million pound visitor centre and community centre have been approved.

Members of North York Moors National Park's planning committee were told that the scheme for the £3m development at Low Dalby Village, would be very environmentally friendly.

David Noble, the architect for White Design Associates, in Bristol, agents for the commission, said: "It will be a modern exciting and sustainable building."

Val Dilcock, chief planning officer, said architects had produced plans and had introduced more energy-efficient measures, including natural ventilation, a micro wind turbine, potential hydro turbine and a bio-mass boiler. Rain water is to be harvested for use in the public toilets.

She said: "The aim is to make the building as low on energy consumption as possible and to source necessary power from a sustainable source."

The centre will provide improved interpreative and educational facilities for existing visitors to the forest and provide facilities such as an indoor tea room, which should increase the year-round attraction of the forest, especially for family groups."

Meanwhile, the planning committee deferred a decision for a controversial £1m development at The Moors Centre, Danby.

The proposal included a plan to build a retail sales complex, play area and conversion of the caretaker's cottage to bunk house accommodation.

Mrs Dilcock said further talks would be held with landowners, which could result in changes in the plans.

There has been strong opposition from retailers at Danby and Castleton, who claim the sales complex will hit their businesses.

The centre, a former shooting lodge owned by Lord Downe's Dawnay Estate is set in 13 acres of countryside close to the River Esk in the Esk Valley.