PLANS to extend a car park in Bowness have been approved by the Lake District National Park Authority.

South Lakeland District Council applied to have an extension of the existing Braithwaite Fold Car Park into an area currently used for boat storage.

These works also include the existing car park to improve circulation, surfacing and landscaping.

A report said Braithwaite Fold was a long stay car park owned and operated by South Lakeland District Council. The informal nature of its layout, surfacing and landscaping mean that it is not used efficiently, said the plans.

The proposals would extend the car park by 36 spaces, totalling 246 spaces, in a linear arrangement alongside the A592 in an area currently used for boat storage. The plans said the proposals would provide formalisation, reconfiguration and landscaping of the existing car par to facilitate a more efficient use of space.

Windermere and Bowness Town Council said: “Although the sub-committee fully supports the need to increase parking in this area, it is important that the facilities provided are good quality and meet environmental standards.”

Some of these works have already taken place under SLDC’s permitted development rights.