STAGECOACH is hoping to build new staff training facilities at a site in Carlisle, it has been revealed.

Plans have been submitted to Cumberland Council's planning department to build an extension in Willow Holme Industrial Estate in the city.

The structure would be at an existing bus drivers' office and canteen at the Stagecoach depot in Willow Holme Road.

According to a design statement, the bus depot has been there for many years and the report states: "There is an existing workshop garage building to an area of land also owned by the applicant along with an area of a hard-surfaced yard used for vehicular parking.

"The bus drivers' office/canteen is located on the north-west corner of the site.

"The general characteristics of the site and immediate surroundings are overtly commercial and industrial and the depot faces a secondary road.

The plansThe plans (Image: Stagecoach)

"The current application proposal involves a new-build development on further land within the applicant’s ownership to the east of the existing commercial area. This is currently a surfaced car park."

The report concludes: "The proposed new building is reasonably required in connection with an existing commercial land use.

"It has been carefully designed for the applicant company to meet their operational requirements and will not appear inappropriate in design terms when related to the characteristics of the site which is previously developed land being mainly a concrete parking yard area.

"There will be benefits in that there will be no material addition to traffic generation caused by the proposal, working conditions for staff at the site will be improved, also no impact on increasing flooding impact.

"Accordingly, it is submitted that full planning permission subject to conditions relating to the provision of samples of materials should be granted."