The owners of a new motor-racing test track are hoping to park a condition imposed when plans were approved.

A planning application for the M-Sport evaluation centre at Dovenby Hall Estate in Cockermouth was approved, but with certain conditions in place.

These included the building of a pedestrian refuge island, two “request bus stops”, and a footway extension.

Since the approval of the plans, M-Sport has submitted an application for the removal of a condition requiring the developments.

Allerdale Council’s development panel is to discuss the matter at tomorrow's meeting.

In full, the condition ­– number 16 ­– involves the installation of a pedestrian refuge island at the junction of the 594 and C2038, the creation of two “request bus stops” to the north and south of the A594, and a footway extension west of Orchard House.

The application was due to be considered by the development panel in March but “at the request of the applicant”, the decision was deferred.

Progress on the major construction project, which is being carried out by Northern Developments, had been continuing last year in spite of the challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The project has attracted investment from the Government’s Regional Growth Fund, as well as from the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership.

M-Sport says it is now "a centre of engineering excellence where motorsport and automotive leaders can follow a project from concept to production".

The former stately home and hospital was bought in 1998 by M-Sport managing director Malcolm Wilson and underwent extensive refurbishment and development to accommodate the new headquarters for M-Sport Ltd.

The council’s planning officers concluded that the the highway works secured by condition 16 are “not considered to be necessary” for the development of the test track and evaluation centre.

They also concluded that “commencement of the use of these facilities without these additional highways works in place would not give rise to an unsustainable form of development and would not result in a severe risk to highway safety”.

Officers have recommended that the condition can be removed.