Innovation Centre for start-ups gets go-ahead in West Cumbria

A multi-million-pound innovation centre for start-ups and entrepreneurs in Workington has been given the go-ahead.

Cumberland Council has approved the plans for the centre, which will be built on part of the current Central Car Park in the town centre.

Work is due to start in autumn and the building is expected to open in early 2026.

Part of the Workington Town Deal, the plans say the new facility will provide purpose-built accommodation for entrepreneurial businesses and bring new modern office accommodation to Workington. The aim is to attract start-ups who are ripe for incubation, as well as small businesses ready for growth. Expert help will be available to help them achieve their ambitions, the Town Deal board said.

It will also complement another Workington Town Deal project, the Digital Accelerator Hub, which opened at Lakes College in Lillyhall last summer, the team behind the plans say.

Morgan Sindall Construction is the main contractor and Buttress Architects supported with the planning application process.

The four-storey building will be clad in metal panels. Air source heat pumps will be installed, while solar panels on the roof will help meet the building’s electricity needs.

The building’s interior will be flexible so it can be reconfigured to meet the needs of the tenants, the plans said.

Employees will be encouraged to use greener methods of transport – secure cycle storage will be installed, as will shower facilities.

The Innovation Centre is part of the Workington Town Deal – £23.1 million of Government funding for a range of transformative projects, which also include a new sports village and improvements to Workington Port, as well as improved public realm.

In relation to expert assistance, the centre will provide tailored innovation and entrepreneurship support. Oxford Innovation Space has been identified as the preferred operator of the new Workington centre. The organisation manages a number of similar facilities across the UK, working with local authorities, universities, science parks and investors.

The NHS is also building a £19 million Community Diagnostic Centre on neighbouring land, offering MRI, CT and ultrasound scans. This has already been granted planning permission.

Leader of Cumberland Council Mark Fryer, said: “The Innovation Centre will give a huge boost to Cumbria’s business community. As a council we want to attract and retain the very best quality businesses and improve the entrepreneurial opportunities we know already exist here.

“It is also in an ideal place to increase footfall to the town centre and make use of Workington’s transport links. This is a new and exciting project that is going to benefit the entire Cumberland community.”

John Coughlan, chairman of Workington Town Deal Board, added: “We know there is a lack of accommodation for those companies which are just starting out, or who want to kick start their growth, in West Cumbria, and grade A office space is virtually non-existent.

“The Innovation Centre will provide the foundations for new brilliance in Cumberland, and the facilities to make it happen.”