Planning permission has been granted for an unstaffed launderette in Keswick to be turned into a micro-bakery, creating one full-time job and two part-time positions.
The Lake District National Park Authority gave the application the go-ahead for the ground floor of the Launderclean premises at 24 Helvellyn Street at its junction with Eskin Street.
Applicant Dr Peter Davison, of Cotehill near Carlisle, said compared to the 8am-7pm operation of the launderette it would operate on reduced hours.
The retail bakery will also be closed on Sundays to help minimise impact on neighbours, said the application.
It added that there would be “minimal increase” to competition for on-street parking – at least no more so than its current use as a launderette.
The application was supported by Keswick Town Council but attracted a single letter of objection from a business in Leonard Street.
They raised concerns about the impact on traffic and car parking. The objector said the launderette was a “vital service” to residents of nearby flats and holidaymakers.
“Keswick town centre is well supplied with food outlets and we strongly believe a bakery would be best served in the town centre itself where there are a constant supply of tourists and plenty of parking facilities,” said the objector.
National park planning officer Phil Nicholls said the small scale unit would not generate more movements of traffic compared to the launderette, and that its proximity to the town centre would mean a significant proportion of customers would visit it on foot.
