Cumbria’s coroner service will move to new premises in a £2 million project.
Currently based in Cockermouth’s Station Road, the service will soon be based in purpose-built premises in Workington.
Work on the new site, at Allerdale House, will start next week by Flimby-based Thomas Armstrong.
It said the move was needed as the current premises no longer meet its needs for a number of reasons, including:
- Court room layout, facilities, and the size and capacity of the court, and the inability to host larger inquests including those that require a jury
- Security of the court and premises as a whole mean poor safety and welfare provision for the coroner and support team
- Accessibility issues, such transport networks and parking
- Issues arising from occupying an ageing building that is beyond its reasonable lifespan
Coroners are independent judicial officers (judges) and members of the judiciary, who investigate and, where required, hold an inquest into deaths where there is reason to suspect that the death was due to violent or unnatural reasons, the cause is unknown, or where a death occurs whilst a person was in custody, or state detention.
In 2024 there were 1,570 deaths reported to the coroner in Cumbria, with 450 inquests held.
Part of Allerdale House will be repurposed, and a large main court room with jury facilities, a secondary court, three family/meeting rooms, a waiting area and reception will be created.
There will also be offices and welfare facilities for the coroner and the support team on the ground and first floors.
It will also have new audio visual and ICT systems.
The work will see significant internal alterations and refurbishment to the Borough Park side of the building, creating standalone accommodation, which while part of Allerdale House, will have its own dedicated entrance and facilities, and have judicial branding and signs.
It is due to be completed by November.
In the meantime, the coroner’s service will continue to operate from the existing site, with inquests held there.
