Ambitious plans have been revealed to transform part of a Workington park into a walled garden, cafe, pottery and community space.
West House wants to transform the Green House in the town’s Hall Park to create a fully restored walled garden that will provide skills and learning experiences in horticulture, customer service, catering and creativity for people with learning disabilities.
The project also hopes to create a community hub and space for leisure, events, workshops, a café and a shop selling produce created by the people that West House supports through their social enterprises including Grow West, Cafe West, and West House Pottery.
The charity said: “The project aims to create several key areas within the walled garden. The inclusive growing spaces will encourage individuals of all abilities to participate in a range of horticultural activities.
“The onsite cafe and commercial kitchen will allow for those that West House supports to gain a range of skills in both customer service and catering and the refurbished pottery will enable even more people to nurture their creativity.”
The space itself will serve as a community hub, providing spaces for events, workshops, and leisure activities.
Open to the public and other education and community groups it is hoped that it will foster connections in the local community and encourage people to take advantage of the local green spaces.
The plans include accessible pathways and facilities that cater to the needs of individuals with disabilities, allowing everyone to participate fully in the garden’s activities.
The charity added: “The garden will not only be a thriving social enterprise but also an educational space, inviting local schools to learn a range of key skills in both the environment and the history of the local area.”
The planning application is part of West House’s joint bid with Cumberland Council under the Levelling Up Fund, which successfully secured funding under the wider Ramsey Brow development project.
Leader of Cumberland Council Mark Fryer, said: “The Workington Gateway Project is a real boost for transport, culture and regeneration in Workington. It represents an investment of over £10 million that will help grow the economy, improve the local environment and maximise the use and enjoyment of our historic Hall Park.
“Hopefully the restoration of the walled garden will help West House grow as a social enterprise and deliver more great work for years to come.
“We’re delighted to be progressing these schemes and providing fantastic new infrastructure and facilities for our town and its people.”
The planning application submission marks a significant milestone in the project’s development. West House hopes to receive the community’s support and is optimistic about the positive impact the restored walled garden will not only have on the lives of individuals with disabilities that they support but also on the wider Workington community.
James Cox, CEO of West House said, “We were delighted to be asked to be a part of the Levelling Up Fund project. This successful bid has enabled us to not only provide even more care opportunities for people in our local community with learning disabilities but also provide a space that all of the residents within Workington and beyond can enjoy. We are excited about the next stage of this project and look forward to sharing even more of our plans soon.”
