PLANS for a new Tesco store in an East Riding town can go ahead after a legal challenge was dropped.

Work on the Driffield development got the all-clear after a judicial review into planning consent was withdrawn at the 11th hour.

Driffield Cattle Market Company, whose redevelopment plans for the derelict site include a superstore, challenged permission for the Tesco store in George Street..

East Riding Council, which gave the planning consent, was the defendant in the case, which was due to start at Leeds

Administrative Court on Monday, January 18.

Ward councillor Symon Fraser, said: "It is brilliant news because the judicial review would have held up work on the new Tesco and other important developments for Driffield.

"Driffield's three ward councillors and the council have supported plans for the new Tesco, an Aldi supermarket and the cattle market redevelopment.

"Anything that gets the schemes off the ground is welcome and we look forward to work starting."

Planning permission for the Tesco, which will be more than double the size of the existing one in George Street, was given in March 2008.

The Cattle Market Company claimed the council's decision was incorrectly made because it did not take into account the retail capacity of Driffield. Although no reason was given for the withdrawal of the judicial review, a superstore is believed to be vital to the redevelopment of the cattle market.

The Aldi plans, which are part of the redevelopment of the Viking Centre, and the cattle market scheme, will go back to the planning committee in February following lengthy discussions over legal agreements, such as access and parking.

If there are no significant changes, the planning committee's earlier support for both schemes could be rubber-stamped.

A Tesco spokesman said it was good news, meaning they could press ahead.