Plans for £4.5m West Cumbria clean energy hub take step forward
Plans for a £4.5m clean energy and logistics hub in West Cumbria have taken a step forward.
A planning application has been submitted to improve the Oldside site at the Port of Workington ahead of the future development.
Cumberland Council is managing the project. The funding is being provided by the Government as part of the Workington Town Deal.
The land has already been assessed for pollutants which could be a legacy of its industrial past and the stability of the land has been assessed to inform the design of a land remediation scheme.
The planning application involves remediation work which will consist of the excavation of topsoil, processing of excavated materials, compaction of the earthworks, and landscaping to prepare the site for future development.
The site is allocated for employment use and the application said: “The proposal provides the opportunity for the site to be unlocked for future beneficial use through remediation of the existing land allowing the site to be viable, attracting inward employment and investment opportunities.
“The proposed development aims to revitalise an underutilised, previously developed site in Workington, transforming it into a viable future development site.
“Oldside is seen as a strategic location to leverage the existing logistics infrastructure of the Port of Workington, thereby enhancing the area’s freight and energy sector employment opportunities. Remediating the site will prepare it for future developments, attracting significant inward investment and fostering economic growth in the region.”
The authority said the plan for Oldside’s clean energy and logistics hub was a long-term plan to improve this key coastal site.
It will allow additional trade and cargo handling at the Port of Workington, with the potential to generate rental income from property lettings at Oldside. The land is owned by Cumberland Council.
In addition to the clean energy initiative, the aim is to improve the rail link into the port with the creation of a multi modal hub and ‘lay down area’ for temporary storage of goods.
Siddick Bridge, an additional £4 million project, opened in 2022, giving greater vehicular access over the Cumbrian Coast Line railway.