
The first stage to create a £4.5 million clean energy and logistics hub in Workington has taken a step forward.
As part of the Workington Town Deal, the cash has been earmarked for the project for land at Oldside.
Approval has been given to begin remediation work on the site, near the Port of Workington.
It 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.
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.
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, the authority said.