Planning permission has been granted for Lightwater Valley to build 106 holiday units at its theme park in Ripon, North Yorkshire, UK.

The £5m resort development will be set on Lightwater Valley's existing grounds, which cover 175 acres and feature Europe's longest rollercoaster, The Ultimate, among its 33 rides.

The park was denied planning permission for 204 caravans and 136 lodges in 2007 as it was deemed the development would be visually intrusive on the surrounding rural landscape.

However, the Harrogate Borough Council agreed at its 3 January meeting to overlook this in the resubmitted plans because the economic benefits the resort would have on the local community were seen to outweigh this.

On site accommodation means the park will no longer be solely dependent on good weather to attract visitors and it can operate for a longer season.

The council's economic development unit reported the Lightwater Resort would boost the local economy by around £300,000, and create 30 additional employment opportunities.

Work on the scheme is scheduled to start in autumn and be finished by spring 2014.