A CHANGE-OF-USE application concerning a former industrial facility has been submitted to Barrow Borough Council by BAE Systems Marine Limited.

The proposals for the former Robert McBride site in Park Road would see it used for the 'long-term storage of slow turnover items used at BAE's other sites within the borough'.

"Operations would be carried out on a 24/7 basis, and the facility would ultimately employ up to 40 employees," says the planning statement submitted as part of the application.

The current site comprises 13,470 sq metres of floorspace and is a former industrial facility made up of sheds and a double-storey administrative building and plant.

The proposed works would see a 3m-high mesh fence erected around the high-voltage switchgear compound as well as a new section of 3m-high mesh fence 'to block the existing road and connect the existing fence line'.

A number of other works are proposed, including line-painting within the car parking and loading areas and pruning of trees and vegetation.

The planning statement says: "Car parking - totalling 124 spaces - loading and external storage areas are situated on hardstand adjacent to the side and rear site boundaries.

"An effluent plant, sprinkler tank and a further tract of land are situated within the land ownership boundaries to the rear of the application site which constitutes the main developed area.

"The overall land ownership site exhibits a land area of 6.64 hectares.

"The site benefits from two access points at the north-eastern and south-eastern corners of the site, facilitating direct access from Park Road for light and heavy vehicles, respectively."

The transport assessment submitted as part of the application says: "Access to the site would remain as existing, with two direct accesses from Park Road.

"The southern entrance is primarily for delivery vehicles and some staff parking, and the northern access is for staff and visitors.

"A further staff car park is located on the western part of the site and this is accessed from Park Road via a shared access road through the neighbouring Gilmour site to the north of the site."

A decision on the application, which would see the site become class B8 (storage or floorspace), is pending.