Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) has welcomed a deal that has seen property developer Roland Duce takeover Benchmark Leisure - the company behind the resort's Sands development.

The council announced that Roland Duce is set to move forward with the development of a proposed waterpark as part of the scheme, and worked with Benchmark in a "supportive role" for the last two years. The multi-million pound Sands scheme was approved by the council in April 2006, which comprises a 55-acre (22.3-hectare) seafront site and includes leisure and residential elements.

SBC chief executive Jim Dillon said: "Scarborough's North Bay and indeed the whole area has already benefited hugely from the developments to date and we welcome this move as a major positive step." Duce added: "Benchmark has already achieved so much, including the superb sea front apartments and commercial lets, new and improved beach chalets, North Bay Railway facilities and the newly refurbished Open Air Theatre."