A NORTH Yorkshire developer has submitted plans for a £120m project at one of the county's seaside towns.

Detailed planning applications for three sites within The Sands, at Scarborough's North Bay, have been completed by Benchmark Leisure, of Northallerton.

The proposals include an extensive indoor and outdoor water park, a 147-bed hotel as well as private and holiday apartments, shops and restaurants.

Members of the public have three weeks to view the plans and comment on the applications before Scarborough Borough Council's development and regulation committee decides on whether the application can be granted.

David Rhodes, managing director of Benchmark, said: "We are encouraged by the high demand for all elements of the scheme, even at this early stage, much of which is from local companies, though there is a lot of national interest as well."

Outline planning permission for the site was approved by the council last October.

The work is to be completed in phases and the plans received so far include 100 private apartments, bars, restaurants and shops and new beach huts and seaside amenities at the Corner Complex.

The second plan is for 38 holiday apartments at Kinderland.

Finally, an extensive indoor and outdoor water-theme development, including a 25-metre swimming pool, hotel and bars, restaurants and shops, is proposed for the Atlantis Waterpark.

Further plans for 200 holiday properties, a multi-storey car park and dry leisure facilities and a spa are expected to be submitted over the next few weeks.

Councillor Eileen Bosomworth, the leader of Scarborough council, said the development would bring employment and investment opportunities to the town.

The residential flats would be completed first,to subsidise the leisure facilities.

She said: "We are committed to seeing this development through to completion and, as such, have an agreement that no profit may be taken from the scheme by the developer until the principal visitor attraction has been completed and is open to the public.

"I am pleased that Benchmark has recognised the real potential that exists in Scarborough and am very much looking forward to seeing this project come to fruition."

The council is looking into providing temporary toilets and alternative eating and drinking facilities while work is carried out on the Corner Complex next summer.

An exhibition of the plans is being prepared for display in the town hall, in St Nicholas Street, later this month.