The iconic McVitie's Factory in Carlisle is set for an expansion.

In an application submitted to Carlisle City Council, a vision was outlined for the building of an extension to the iconic warehouse, among several other improvements.

The biscuit factory is a well-known local landmark having been ever present in the city since 1831 and a major employer, currently providing 750 jobs to residents in the area.

The investment comes after an uncertain past year for the company. Pladis, the company that owns McVitie’s, announced proposals to close its factory in Glasgow earlier this year. The closure is expected to see production moved to other Pladis sites within the UK - including Carlisle.

The company said the move had come about due to a need to address “excess capacity” across its UK sites, to ensure it can continue to invest in the future success of the business.

As part of its ongoing continuous improvement activities, Pladis (formerly United Biscuits) is now seeking planning permission to extend its existing warehouse in Carlisle.

According to Pladis, the plans are in line with the ongoing vision for the future in terms of streamlining its production line.

They stated: "The investment is intended to streamline the movement of work-in progress and packaging materials on the site by consolidating storage into a single location.

"The overriding objective of the proposal is to improve the internal efficiency of operations within the site."

City Councillor Elizabeth Mallinson welcomed the investment in Carlisle's factory and expressed warm gratitude to the company for unique its role in the city.

She stated: "It is a tremendous opportunity for Carlisle and for economic development post-Covid. The factory has a rich history going back over a century for giving good quality jobs, predominantly to women, in the city.

"It is something that we need. The faith that the company has put into Carlisle and its prosperity is to be applauded."