A NEW business opens in Barrow next month creating eight jobs after winning planning permission.

South Lakes Car Sales and Maximus Car Wash will open on Roose Road on April 1 on the site of the former Knightsbridge Cars which suddenly closed in December.

New owner Tom Ellor, aged 27, and Phillip Pearson, aged 29, have invested around £70,000 in the new enterprise.

The new business venture required planning permission from Barrow Council’s planning committee, which was chaired by Cllr Colin Thomson.

Its committee met to decide whether a change of use of the site could be extended to include a drive-in car wash facility.

Car sales, servicing and a MOT centre will also be part of the new business.

Mr Ellor, a businessman from Lancaster, said eight new jobs would be created at the new business after it was bought on January 31.

A planning officer’s report said the site formed a triangular parcel of land with a purpose-built car showroom and petrol filling station and forecourt buildings.

In recent years, the site had operated as a cars sales pitch only.

Planning officer Jennifer Dickinson said Cumbria County Council, as the highways authority, was happy with the plans.

The business was allowed to operate between 9am and 7pm seven days a week.

A report said mitigation measures to minimise noise would be put in place and it was is not considered that the opening hours would result in an unacceptable impact.

The application was unanimously agreed by the committee with eight conditions.

Mr Ellor said he was pleased with the decision and was looking forward to opening the business in Barrow.