Plans for a 12-storey hotel in Workington have been approved.

Allerdale council's development panel today approved outline plans for the development at St Helen's Business Park, off the A596.

It would include the 300-bed hotel, a car showroom, a large retail building for non-food goods, a restaurant and a fast food drive-thru.

A new road access would be created opposite the Dunmail Park entrance and Cumbria Highways have asked for traffic lights to be installed to manage traffic.

Under the plans, the existing Jump Mania premises and the building north of it would remain.

The third existing building on the site would be replaced by a new car showroom with offices above and a smaller building for retail or financial and professional services will be built alongside.

The planned hotel and a 4,650sqm retail build would be built on the area occupied by the temporary Tesco after the 2009 floods.

A restaurant and fast food drive-thru would occupy an area near the site's front boundary.

Retail surveys have suggested that a large proportion of the development's trade could come from people who currently travel to Carlisle and other shopping destinations outside Allerdale.

It is estimated that 20 per cent of its business would come from Workington town centre and five per cent from Cockermouth town centre.

Councillor Ron Munby said: "In an area like Cockermouth that could have an immense impact."

In the application, J Dixon and Son Ltd said the project could create the equivalent of 831 full-time jobs and provide about £24.71m in wages per year.

But Councillor Jim Lister questioned the figures, which worked out at an average salary of nearly £30,000.

He added: "I believe it will be good for the town and Allerdale generally but it's just the 'made-up' ness of the report."

Coun Nicky Cockburn proposed approval of the plans, seconded by Coun Lister.

They were passed with nine votes in favour, two against and one abstention.

Detailed plans would need to be approved before any work could start on the site.