A planning application has been submitted to improve the Oldside site at the Port of Workington ahead of future development.
Cumberland Council is managing the project which aims to use the location to create a clean energy and logistics hub. Around £4.5 million of 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 works 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 says: “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 (PoW), 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 application has been submitted to Cumberland Council and can be viewed here.
The plan for Oldside’s clean energy and logistics hub is 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.