A planning application has today (19 February 2025) been approved 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, promote employment opportunities, and benefit the West Cumbrian economy.
Around £4.5 million of funding is being provided by the Government as part of the Workington Town Deal and is part of a wider regeneration project which includes the Workington Gateway and the opening up of better transport links in the town centre which builds on previous investment including the £4 million Siddick Bridge which improved vehicular access over the Cumbrian Coast Line railway.
Now the planning application has been approved, remediation works can begin. That includes the excavation of topsoil, processing of excavated materials, compaction of the earthworks, and landscaping to prepare the site for future development.
The land has already been assessed for pollutants which could be a legacy of its industrial past, and its stability has been assessed to inform the design of a land remediation scheme.
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.”
The plans for Oldside are part of a long-term initiative to develop the Port of Workington as a hub for clean energy, manufacturing and intermodal logistics which will support wider regional growth.
Leader of Cumberland Council, Cllr Mark Fryer said:
“Oldside is a strategic location in West Cumbria with huge potential for economic growth. This is the next step in our plans to attract significant additional inward investment, creating more jobs and more opportunities for those who live and work here.”