A £10million economy-boosting plan to turn the Great Yorkshire Showground into the centre for agriculture in the north of England has been unveiled.

The five-year proposal, announced at the Harrogate showground yesterday by Nigel Pulling, chief executive of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society, includes:

A new regional agriculture centre, including offices, farm shop and a caf

A new 100-bedroom hotel replacing an accommodation block

A 6,500 sq ft building to replace the present 3,500 sq metre Exhibition Hall 1

A roundabout on Wetherby Road, plus a more durable road into the showground leading to a new entrance and

Relocation of the existing touring caravan park within the site.

The society organises the Great Yorkshire Show, and through its trading arm, the Yorkshire Event Centre, provides the venue for numerous events throughout the year, including the Yorkshire International Business Convention.

Talks about the new vision are taking place between the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and Harrogate Borough Council, as well as other interested parties, as a prelude to submitting the scheme for outline planning consent.

Already letters explaining the proposals have been delivered by hand to residents of 600 homes around the showground, inviting them to offer their views at a meeting at the showground's Pavilion on Monday, January 31.

If approved by planners, a detailed scheme will be formulated with a view to work beginning on the project before the end of the year. It would be phased around the Great Yorkshire Show and other major events to avoid upheaval.

Mr Pulling said: "Our vision is for the Great Yorkshire Showground to be the centre for agriculture in the north of England."

He said a £12million ten-year upgrading programme at the site was already complete.

Mr Pulling said: "These plans are a natural next step and will enable us to promote agriculture more effectively and improve the facilities available year round.

"We believe that this is good news for agriculture and good news for the local economy as well as providing much needed additional exhibition space and accommodation"

An independent report by the Yorkshire Tourist Board shows that the Yorkshire Event Centre contributes between £30 million and £37 million annually to the local economy, and also supports between 581 and 712 full-time jobs, mostly local.

Heather Parry, the society's managing director, said: "Our aim is for prospective customers to see Yorkshire and more specifically, Harrogate, as the first choice for their event, and raise funds for the society in the process."

Updated: 10:41 Thursday, January 20, 2005