Greggs has officially acquired the site of a former doctor’s surgery in Carlisle.

The well-known chain has now acquired the premises on Eastern Way through Carigiet Cowen as the retained agent for the bakery giant in Cumbria.

The site previously belonged to the Eastern Way Surgery, which closed in 2022 due to South Carlisle Health Care merging services from Brunswick House, Eastern Way, and Arnside House.

In June, the News & Star revealed that Greggs submitted an application to transform the former surgery building into a fast-food outlet.

As outlined in the plans, the company anticipates hiring 12 staff members in total, with two being full-time positions and 10 being part-time. No change of use application is required on the site. 

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The application for the site, which includes seating, also detailed some physical changes.

These include the addition of two illuminated facia signs and a non-illuminated totem sign, which are still subject to planning approval.

The announcement follows closely behind Greggs' plans to convert a 'redundant' car showroom in Kendal into another branch of the popular bakery.

Elsewhere in Carlisle, other fast-food chains continue to eye-up expansion.  

At the beginning of the month, Burger King announced that they are awaiting "final confirmation" ahead of plans to bring the much-loved fast-food chain back to the city. 

It follows after Custodian Real Estate Investment Ltd got Cumberland Council's approval to construct a restaurant on a 2,500-square-foot site at St Nicholas Gate Retail Park, London Road.

According to original plans for the new site, upwards of 30 jobs, including five managerial roles, are expected to be created when the site eventually opens. 

Speaking previously, a spokesperson for the chain said: "We’re awaiting final confirmation on a planned new restaurant in Carlisle.

"We're excited about opening a new restaurant in the area, and we will be in touch when we have further updates to share."

This comes after Carlisle has been without a Burger King outlet since the London Road branch closure in 2012, despite a public petition receiving over 1,000 signatures in support of the restaurant.

Meanwhile, hospitality developments in the city continue to increase in the form of the STACK Carlisle project.

Earlier this year, the proposed entertainment venue, made up of 50 shipping containers, outlined its operational management plan to the council. 

It included its trading schedule, from 8am to midnight from Monday to Thursday and Sunday, with an extended 1am close on Fridays and Saturdays.

The ambitious project, which received planning permission last May, is expected to create around 160 jobs in the area.

Original reports suggest the development would begin in 2024.