PLANS to convert a ‘redundant’ car sales room in south Cumbria into a new Greggs has been given the go-ahead.

Westmorland and Furness Council has granted planning permission to Cox Motor Group to convert the site of the former Seat sales room off Queen Katherine Avenue in Kendal into a branch of the bakery giants.

The proposed Greggs will have indoor and outdoor seating areas and plans on being open from 5am to 10pm every day.

A design and access statement says: “Cox Motor group has owned the Kendal Motor Village site since 2005. The former car sales area within building 1 is now redundant as franchise requirements from the car companies require new standards.”

Planning documents add plans were previously granted to move the workshop area to a new building to the south of the applicant’s site which has now been built.  The previous MOT facilities on site are ‘very old’ and need to be updated to new regulations in vehicle testing, according to the design and access statement.

The proposed site of the new Greggs is located next to the Aldi supermarket and opposite Morrisons, Halfords and other retail units.

Planning documents state: “Greggs Bakery began in the 1930s, serving fresh bakery products to working families in the North East at prices everyone could afford. Today they are just as keen for Greggs to have a positive impact on people’s lives with freshly prepared food accessible to everyone.”

Greggs already has two stores in Kendal in the Westmorland Shopping Centre and on Stricklandgate.

A report by planning officers concluded: “Aside from the issue of town centre vitality and the reasonable requirement for a sequential test, the proposed development undoubtedly marks sustainable development by virtue of its location, land-use context, the re-use of existing infrastructure, and accessibility.”

This planning application was approved on July 23.