Plans have been drawn up for a 25,000 sq ft store to be built.

APR Developments wants Harrogate Borough Council to sanction the unit on land at Oak Beck Park, close to New Park roundabout, with its links to Ripon and Skipton.

Councillors are due to give the go-ahead to the idea later this month, with the main stipulation that the store is not used for food sales.

It will be next door to the existing Great Mills DIY store.

Planning officers said the scheme was highly unlikely to affect the vitality and viability of the town centre.

Its effect on retailers there would be negligible.

Exactly what will be sold has yet to be determined, but the scheme's impact on the road network, notably the over-crowded A59 Skipton road has caused some concerns. But highway engineers have ruled that the surrounding roads can cope with extra traffic.

The site was once used for tipping, and records held by the Environment Agency show that significant volumes of landfill gas are being produced.

Any consent for building will be conditional on an investigation, to rule out any gas problems.