RYEDALE District Council has approved £2.5m of funding to relocate the authority and create a new public service hub.

Councillors agreed the funding, which will be supported by £155,000 from central Government, at a meeting of the full council.

The money will be used to start work on plans to locate a range of services into one new development on the site of Community House in Wentworth Street car park in Malton.

This includes moving the council from its current site, which would then be made available for new housing.

As part of the move, council meetings would be held at the Assembly Rooms in Malton, helping to secure the venue’s long-term future.

The council says moving will deliver long-term savings as it is more cost effective than maintaining the current facilities.