An application to change a retail store into a hot food takeaway has been given the green light.

A planning application was submitted to Allerdale Council to change the use of a retail shop on King Street in Wigton into a hot food takeaway.

The store sits adjacent to a Chinese takeaway but there is no intention to incorporate the two.

The last occupier of the premises, an ice cream and sweet store, ceased trading in these premises some time ago and since then it has stood empty.

Attempts have been made to let the premises and the only enquiry has been for a takeaway use.

The application was submitted by Mr Siu Tung Tang, who also owns Pearl City Chinese takeaway next door.

The design and access statement that was submitted to Allerdale Council planning department states the owner is keen to return the building to an economic use and was looking to secure consent for a hot food takeaway.

The statement reads: "The building comprises the ground floor commercial area and the first floor provides associated storage and there is no desire for the first floor to be separated from the ground floor.

"To the rear of the ground floor the existing staff room and toilet facilities will remain in their existing form and use for the new takeaway.

"The front section of the former retail area will be used for a servery and customer waiting area whilst the middle section will become an open plan kitchen visible from the customer area. The rear stock room will continue in a similar use.

"Externally to the rear of the property is an area that will be used for bin storage, the area is accessible from Reed’s Lane for the servicing of the bins and for food deliveries and similar.

"The application site is self-contained and the applicant owns and controls the whole site area comprising the application for the proposed change of use to a takeaway."

No objections were received by the town council on the application.

The plans have now been approved and development must start within three years.

The proposal is looking to minimise changes to the external appearance of the building with the King Street elevation staying effectively the same likewise the side lane and rear elevations.

The only external changes will be the introduction of a kitchen extraction system that will be ducted internally throughout the first floor and roof void.