A MAJOR bakery chain set to open a drive-through in a South Lakeland town has been granted permission to open 18 hours a day. 

Greggs was seeking 'increased flexibility' for its site at Ulverston's Beehive Business Park, situated off the A590, 'to meet the needs of motorists and those working and living within the vicinity of the site'.

An application to vary a planning condition that would allow the store to open between 5am and 11pm, seven days a week, has now been granted by South Lakeland District Council. 

The hours initially stipulated in the condition were 6.30am to 8pm, Monday to Saturday, and 8am to 6pm on Sundays and bank holidays. 

READ MORE: Greggs seeks 18-hour opening at upcoming drive-through

In a covering letter submitted in support of the application, Jackie Ford, of JMS Planning and Development, said: "It is not considered that the proposal will generate additional traffic movements as people using the facility during the proposed extended hours will be on the highway network already."

However, objector Gill Benjamin, of New Church Gardens, suggested in her representation that the extended opening hours would increase the amount of traffic using Lightburn Road, situated off the A590.

"This has already increased dramatically since the opening of all the business units at the Beehive," she said.

"This, along with parking, has made access/egress from our property very difficult – and sometimes dangerous – with the speed at which some vehicles travel."

The Greggs drive-through is to open later this year.