PLANS for a huge distribution warehouse north of Ripon have been approved, but it cannot be used until key improvements have been made to a nearby main road junction.

The warehouse scheme, which includes offices and parking areas, got the go-ahead from Ripon area members of Harrogate Borough Council's planning team.

The application is for a site at Barker Business Park, Melmerby Green Lane, near Melmerby village.

It covers more than 11 acres, and was described as one of the biggest schemes to come before the authority for years.

The development will cover a floor area of 222,500sq ft.

Planning officer Dennis Harling said one of the major conditions was that improvements had to be carried out to the junction of the A61 and Melmerby Green Lane - a condition had been imposed restricting occupation or use of the warehouse until improvements were complete.

The warehouse will be occupied by Wolseley Centers', which describes itself as one of the largest and most successful distributors of building materials in the country.

Company spokesman Roger Slater said they had distributed products from their Ripon site in Boroughbridge Road for almost 30 years.

They had seen a huge growth in the operation, with Ripon becoming a regional distribution centre and headquarters of the group's UK activities.

Originally, a workforce of 12 had transferred from Leeds, but that had grown to more than 300.

Mr Slater said the company had outgrown the present distribution site, and Ripon was falling behind company bases in Dunstable and Worcester.

He pointed out that moving from Boroughbridge Road would only affect 60 staff in the warehouse.

The present site would continue to develop more facilities to allow growth in skilled functions.

Mr Harling said the site was allocated for employment. but conceded the large building would have a significant impact.

"However, it will allow for relocation of a business, which has been established in the area for many years," he said.

"Relocation may provide opportunities for redevelopment or re-use of the applicant's existing site in Ripon."

Mr Harling said, apart from highway improvements, no objections had been raised.