COUNCILLORS have backed plans for a compulsory purchase order to support a £10m city centre redevelopment.

Harrogate Borough Council will be asked to use the powers to kick-start scheme, west of Ripon Market Place, by late spring or early summer.

A meeting of the council will consider the recommendation on Wednesday.

Chief planning officer Tim Richards said a number of pieces of land were needed for development.

He said some landowners were in a position to delay the scheme.

The project, by Maple Grove Developments, has planning permission for the site, an area of run-down land near the Market Place.

A supermarket, shops, 36 flats and parking for nearly 200 cars are included in the scheme.

In addition, North Yorkshire County Council plans to provide a link road to reduce traffic in the city centre. It would bypass the Market Place by linking North Street with the Blossomgate area.

Mr Richards said Government planning officials had advised that the scheme's potential for the regeneration for Ripon made the use of compulsory powers appropriate.

Maple Grove has made a deal with Booths Supermarkets to provide a store on the land.

For more than 40 years, the future of the land has been under discussion and proposals have been submitted.

In recent years, the land has been used for parking.