THE Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has given Tesco the green light to build a superstore in Harrogate.

Eric Pickles announced yesterday he would not call in the plans, which have sparked a storm of controversy among traders in the town, for a public inquiry.

Harrogate Borough Council passed the scheme on a site at the former New Park gasworks in September.

Tesco said the store will create more than 300 jobs and is set to meet the council to discuss how it can improve public amenities as part of the project.

A Tesco spokesman said: "We're now looking forward to scheduling the build and getting on site to bring the great supermarket shopping that residents have told us they want in north Harrogate. We hope to be serving customers from our new store within two years."