Selby'S new retail park will have a Christmas opening after councillors approved controversial changes in plans for the development.

Selby District Council's planning committee defied recommendations by principal planning officer Richard Borrows to pass two revisions to the Bawtry Road site.

Developers Dransfield Properties were given the go-ahead by a majority of ten to three to reduce the size and change the use of one of the site's six units, allowing shoe retailers Brantano to trade at the site.

But the decision flies in the face of provisions in the site's initial planning consent designed to protect town centre traders.

When outline permission was granted in October 2002, councillors stipulated that all units, with the exception of McDonald's, must be no smaller than 650 sq metres and sales limited to bulky goods.

Both Mr Burrows and Selby District Chamber of Trade expressed concerns that reneging on these provisions could set a precedent for future applications.

Members of the planning committee also voted unanimously in favour of a further application for a Choices Video store to be built at the park.

Mark Dransfield, managing director of Dransfield Properties, said: "We are delighted that the council have supported our application and approved our revised plans. This means we can now work towards a Christmas opening.

"We have had a great deal of support for this development within the local community and it is clear from our consultation that the south side of Selby is in need of investment of this kind."

He said that contractors Kier had already begun ground preparation work at the site and hopes were high for a Christmas opening.

At least 230 new jobs will be created by the retail park, which will house McDonald's, Aldi, Homebase, Pets At Home, Halfords and CarpetRight, as well as Brantano and Choices Video.

A separate planning application has been submitted for a specially-commissioned sculpture by Robert Erskine which will be placed in the centre of the newly-constructed roundabout at the junction of Abbot's Road and Bawtry Road.

Updated: 12:33 Monday, June 02, 2003