The King is coming - and bringing 25 jobs with him.

A new Burger King drive-thru is set to come to Barrow after it was given the green light by planners.

The national fast food chain will open a new restaurant in place of the former Frankie and Benny’s outlet at Hindpool Retail Park.

A meeting of Barrow Council’s planning committee was told the new outlet would bring 15 full-time jobs to the town and 25 in total.

Councillors were told work could start ‘as soon as possible’ with the firm keen to recruit in the area.

The proposals were amended after concerns were raised by highways bosses from Cumbria County Council the new drive-thru would lead to significant congestion in the area.

But objections were withdrawn after changes to the plans, which included lengthening the drive-thru queuing area and painting £5,000 ‘keep clear’ marking on the adjacent Hindpool Road, were put forward.

Plans say the unit will be partially demolished to allow for the new drive-thru and the restaurant will feature an outdoor seating area.

A new pedestrian entrance will also be created and the existing service entry, to the left of the restaurant, will be retained.

Speaking in favour of the Burger King application, Kirill Malkin, of consultancy firm Montagu Evans, said: “This has been a long process with planning officers and there have been changes to the original plan after the concerns by highways.

“The developers are very keen to build something that would bring 15 full-time jobs to the area.”

Planning officer Maureen Smith recommended councillors to approve the application, highlighting the jobs it would bring and the affect it would have on the area.

She said: “There are a number of positives in terms of the jobs and the landscaping around the new restaurant.”

Councillor Les Hall raised concerns about a possible increase in litter around the new outlet but was told workers would be involved in street cleaning around the restaurant.

The meeting was told a traffic survey had been carried out at lunchtimes between a Friday and Sunday to gauge the level of traffic at probable peak times for the restaurant but the results showed the congestion would not be significant.

A study is due to look further into existing traffic problems in the area before the new Burger King opens.

The Frankie and Benny’s unit has been empty for three-and-a-half years after it closed amid a ‘challenging trading period’ for the restaurant group.

The unit had originally been earmarked to be split between Greggs and Card Factory before Burger King showed interest in the site.

Most Burger King restaurants are privately-owned franchises. Barrow’s previous Burger King, in Dalton Road, closed over a decade ago.