Planning permission has been approved to convert a listed Egremont building from a shop to a cafe in what will be a welcome boost for Copeland’s post-Covid hospitality recovery.

The development, which had been proposed by a Mr Thomas Cheung of CF Hospitality, based at 47 High Street in Cleator Moor, will see the Grade II listed property at 57 Main Street in Egremont revamped.

The site was most recently a shop and also housed the Outside In cafe, but has been empty since 2015.

In a real positive for the hospitality industry, which has been dealing with the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, the new development of the building is expected to create around eight jobs in total, which will be a welcome boost for many in the town.

The jobs are expected to be six on a part-time basis and a further two full-time roles which is promising news for those on the search for a new role, particularly at this time.

Copeland Borough Council considered that the application proposal represented sustainable development and would contribute towards the “three over-arching objectives (economic, social, and environmental)”.