A major milestone has been reached for plans for a new sports village in West Cumbria.
A planning application for Cumberland Sports Village, on the site of Workington Reds’ Borough Park home, has been lodged with Cumberland Council.
Supported by the Government’s Town Deal, Cumberland Council and Football Foundation funding, the Cumberland Sports Village project presents the opportunity to create a modern, fit-for-purpose stadium facility for Workington Reds and the Workington Town rugby side.
As well as sport, the stadium would also act as a focal point for both the community and businesses within the area, say the people behind the plans.
An improved hospitality offer means the stadium could also be used for meetings, conferences, functions, events and community activities.
Dave Bowden, spokesman for Cumberland Sports Village, said: “Following our recent public engagement in which the plans were received positively, we have now reached another important stage of the development with the submission of the planning application. This sets out what’s planned and how it’ll be delivered.”
The delivery of the project is being led by CSV Ltd and is being supported by a wide range of experienced specialists including FWP, Curtins, PSA, Baker Mallet, Wardell Armstrong and Savills.
What will Cumberland Sports Village look like?
West Stand (Main Stand)
The existing stand will be demolished and replaced with a new main stand building which will provide greatly improved club facilities featuring:
- Spectator seating for up to 1,000 people, with a good provision of wheelchair viewing spaces.
- A large first floor function suite with lift access and a seating capacity of around 120.
- A series of executive boxes on the first floor, with floor to ceiling glass windows and dedicated terrace seats in a prime position.
- A sports bar and an external fan zone at ground level and internal concourse.
The main stand will also include:
- Administrative space for both clubs, a main reception, press/media suite and a match day control room.
- Four new changing room spaces for clubs, officials, and community groups alongside all the necessary supporting facilities such as WCs, medical room and laundry/kit facilities.
North Stand Terrace
The existing uncovered terracing will be demolished and replaced with an uncovered terrace for around 700 spectators. This will be located further north by around nine metres to allow for the expansion of the playing area and future development.
East Stand
The existing east stand (the Popular Side) will be demolished and replaced with a new covered spectator standing terrace to accommodate around 1,000 spectators. This will be positioned further to the east than the existing stand by 7m to allow for the expansion of the playing surface and expansion of the main stand.
South Stand
The existing south stand (the Town End) will be demolished and replaced with a new covered spectator standing terrace to accommodate around 1,000 spectators.
The pitch
The existing turf pitch will be replaced with a 3G pitch suitable for both football and rugby use.
A community pitch, from the Football Foundation, will be created on the Allerdale House car park.
Impacted areas to all stands around the pitch will be made good and provided with suitable new run-off areas, pitch perimeter fencing and compliant access to meet all building and stadia guidance. New turnstiles and boundary fencing will be provided.
New floodlighting around the pitch will be configured as required in accordance with ground grading requirements.
External access and parking around the main building has been adjusted to suit to proposed layout with the existing highways layout largely being kept.
