Planning permission is being sought to erect a new building to house the coroners’ service in Workington.
At present, the service operates from rented office premises at Fairfield in Cockermouth in which a room is utilised as a small court, while larger inquest proceedings currently make use of venues across the county.
The new site would be on land adjacent to West Cumbria House, Jubilee Road, Lillyhall, Workington. Cumbria County Council’s development and control committee is due to consider the application at a meeting in Kendal tomorrow (March 2).
A report to councillors states that the proposed new building would provide a permanent office base for this countywide service and two courtroom spaces of differing sizes with the larger court-space providing break-out meeting rooms and segregated jury spaces.
“The coroners’ service is seeking bespoke premises to better meet its operational and technological requirements, realise efficiencies in service delivery, and to provide a sensitive environment for bereaved people and families which also reflects the civic/judicial function of the service,” the report says.
The application site is located on the western edge of the Lillyhall Business Park, about two miles south-east of Workington town centre.
