DEVELOPERS behind a proposed £120m leisure complex have been granted full outline planning permission.

Benchmark Leisure Limited wants to transform a 50-acre site on Scarborough's North Bay into a major attraction.

The company, based in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, is planning to build at least 100 private apartments, 320 holiday homes, a hotel and conference centre, a covered 50,000sq ft water park, a casino and a spa and health centre, plus shops and restaurants.

Under the proposals, there will also be beach chalets, an open air theatre and a miniature railway.

Benchmark has received full outline planning permission from Scarborough Borough Council, and is now applying for detailed permission for the first phases of development, including the water park.

Managing director David Rhodes said: "This final approval of the outline planning consent has been much anticipated by both those involved in the development and the people of Scarborough. Everyone is now looking forward to putting plans into action and starting work on site.

"We will now be working closely with Scarborough Borough Council to obtain detailed planning permission, so that work can begin, hopefully, sometime early in the new year."