Plans for a new commercial development in Workington are set to be given the green light on Tuesday.
The complex, to the west of the Derwent Howe estate, would include a mix of retail, takeaway and food businesses across 2,350 square metres.
Port Derwent Properties Ltd, based in Horsham, has applied for permission for the complex and it will be discussed by Allerdale council’s development panel on Tuesday.
It is a speculative application and no firm plans are in place, a report to councillors says. Port Derwent Properties list its business as buying and selling of own real estate on Companies House.
The plans include a 90-space car park.
The 1.61 hectare site is derelict land to the west of Derwent Drive and was previously used by railway serving the steelworks.
Workington Town Council has recommended refusal because it said it would have a negative impact on the town centre and its impact on traffic congestion on Derwent Drive would be considerable.
Cumbria Wildlife Trust has objected because it would impact the area’s biodiversity. Trees which run alongside the road are subject to preservation orders and there are habitats for wildlife there, including for the small blue butterfly – which is the only substantial population in the North.
However, the firm said it was committed to improving the ecological value of the site and the disused railway lines which support the small blue butterfly and proposed mitigation measures which would also benefit the other priority butterfly/moth species.
Four letters of objection have also been submitted.
Port Derwent Properties has submitted evidence to show why other locations in the town were not suitable for the development, based on a retail study carried out by the council in 2020.
Land next to Travelodge
A triangular area of vacant land lies to the west of the hotel. Although the remaining section of the site has consent for a public house this part of the work has not been implemented and the site remains vacant.
The applicant concluded that it was not apparent that the site was available nor was it preferable to the proposed site as it does not have material better
connections to Workington town centre.
Land at The Cloffocks
The site is not available for sale and unsuitable for the proposed development owing to its scale and proposed allocation for alternative uses.
Central Car Park
The applicant’s initial retail impact assessment at the time of its submission concluded that this site was insufficient in size to accommodate the scale and
form of the development proposed and is unsuitable for a large scale proposal due to the proximity to housing.
The council that it is progressing proposals for an innovation centre at the site as part of its Workington Town Investment Plan of October 2020. The Innovation Centre will be located to the north of the existing car park, occupying around a third of the wider site. It is understood funding has now been secured for this
development.
Fusion nightclub
The unit was vacant prior to its fire in 2020. The site area is around 0.11ha and is physically too small to accommodate the development.
Former Debenhams store, Washington Square
The site is likely to be available in the next couple of months. Its site area is 0.21ha, which is below the applicants minimum required 1.2ha site
area. The site area and its split levels are not considered suitable for the development.
However, the report to councillors added: “Washington Square’s agents have confirmed that the landlord would consider subdivision of the Debenhams unit either for retail uses or retail at ground floor and alternative uses on upper floors. It is therefore possible that this site could accommodate the proposed development without the need for the disaggregation of the application scheme.”
The former Workington Opera House, Pow Street/Tiffin Lane
The building has been vacant since 2004. An application for demolition has been approved but the site is not being actively marketed. The report added: “It accepts this site is too small for the proposed development and therefore is unsuitable, especially as it’s also understood from the Workington Town Investment Plan that it is to be used as a pocket park.”
Royal British Legion, Jane Street
The site is not for sale, which was accepted within the initial peer assessment. There is no material change in circumstances with the site and it is not being actively marketed with the understanding the Royal British Legion presently has no intention to sell the buildings.
Other units
The firm identified 31 vacant units from 30sq m to 1,720sq m available in Workington but none were suitable.
