PLANS to expand a software firm's offices to cater to 'growing' staff numbers and storage space have been approved.

Citrus Lime, based in Lantern House in the Ellers, Ulverston, proposed plans to South Lakeland District Council to extend its offices across two floors in February.

The plans have since been given the green light by the planning committee.

Citrus Lime are one of the industry leaders in cloud-based retail software bike and outdoor businesses, competing with global companies such as Shopify.

The plans include creating more office and storage space as well as a first floor roof terrace extension and new rooflights within the existing pitched roof.

The extended office space will mean 10 more desk work spaces could be created within the site.

The submitted application also reveal plans to increase the number of employees from 48 full-time and three part-time employees to eight more full-time staff and five more part-time.

The Lantern House is a converted and extended old stone-built warehouse which was originally changed into an arts centre and now operates as an office.

According to the design and access statement, Citrus Lime is 'growing' and needs additional space to accommodate the existing and increasing staff numbers and storage.

In May last year, the firm's CEO Neil McQuillan revealed plans to create new jobs to help grow the business after processing £473 million worth of client orders across 12 months.

Speaking in May 2021, Mr McQuillan said: “We’ve been here in Ulverston since 2016 and we have no plans to move. We’ve got exciting jobs growth on the horizon and those jobs will be based here in the local area.

“As a software company, it’s obviously tempting to move our head office to somewhere like Manchester, but that would go against our ethos.

“We’ve got a great team and culture in Ulverston and that’s what we plan to build on in the near future with our new software opportunities.”

Citrus-Lime has grown from humble beginnings, starting life with just Neil and fellow director, Kevin Bigland.

The business now employs 50 people across offices in Ulverston in the Lake District and Manchester city centre.

Its Cloud-based technology is aimed specifically at retailers in the outdoor, cycle and equestrian sectors.

Last year, it marked processing over £1 billion pounds worth of its clients revenue.