Cumberland Sports Village bosses have issued a progress report on plans for a proposed new stadium in Workington.
It follows four months when news on the project had been sparse and fears were mounting that time might be running out before work could start.
Cumberland Sports Village will see a stadium for Workington Town and Workington Reds to share on the site of the football team’s Borough Park and a community sports pitch will be created on Lonsdale Park, the former greyhound track.
Around £6.4 million has already been raised for the first phase of the stadium build, which will include, as a minimum, a new main grandstand with changing rooms and hospitality areas, plus lots of additional space.
The latest press release says: “Although things may appear very quiet officials from both clubs and the stadium company have been busy pulling together various aspects of the Sporting Village project and we can provide an update.
“With the money advanced we have employed a company of quantity surveyors to provide a cost based on all of the requirements listed by the clubs.
“This has now been passed to a firm of architects to refine based on current and extended budgets, with the expectation of producing designs in line with what is likely to be the actual build.
“This has taken longer than expected. The budget is tight so careful consideration has been given to the priority items but we hope we can share something really soon.
“We are also picking up on some work provided from the previous project with regard to flood mitigation on the Lonsdale Park site of the sporting village.
“We are developing this with consultants in order to cost a solution designed to alleviate any potential future flood damage. This is a crucial piece of work and is a precursor to the Football Foundation providing major financial support for a community pitch.
“It should be added here that the foundation are very supportive in recognising the potential benefits to the community. Again, we have a consultant who is charged with developing the community aspect of the project to secure this funding.
“As we’ve mentioned earlier a shared stadium in which the clubs can prosper, the provision of a community facility, and in which the stadium itself can be sustainable presents a transformational change to all parties.
“The stadium representatives from the clubs have met several times to discuss and draw up the basis of a financial operational budget to quantify how this will work.
“This is not only essential for the project when built, but at this stage will provide confidence to the funders and all concerned that the project overall is sustainable. Work continues on this with the clubs working very closely together on what is a challenging exercise.”
