Whitehaven’s harbour will be the key focus of a masterplan which could transform the town.
Members of Cumberland Council’s executive committee will meet next Thursday, July 23, and consider the draft Whitehaven Masterplan report.
The masterplan has been produced to establish a long-term framework to guide regeneration, investment and place-making in the town.
A report to the members said: “Improved public spaces, stronger connections and reactivated buildings encourage movement along the waterfront, while new destination spaces create linked places for everyday use and events.
“The town centre is reshaped as a more people-focused environment. Improved streets prioritise pedestrians, support local businesses and create a more attractive setting.
“Key sites introduce housing, education, culture and hospitality uses, helping support activity throughout the day and evening.”
Projects include the town centre public realm; King Street North public realm and shop front improvements; the station gateway; harbourside public realm; harbourside gateway; King Street South regeneration; and a wayfinding and artwork strategy.
It wants to revive Whitehaven’s maritime heart, the central town centre gateway and look at plans for King Street North diversification the former Mark House site, the former Wilko store; southern harbourside; a C2C hub; senior living community; and the southern gateway leisure centre and a sports quarter.
It is hoped that a southern gateway residential expansion will provide what is described as sustained momentum.
The report said: “The plan has been developed to respond to structural economic change, underutilised assets and town centre challenges, while capitalising on the town’s harbour, heritage and Energy Coast location.
“The masterplan promotes sustainable growth, town centre revitalisation and improved connectivity, aligning with Cumberland Council priorities for promoting health and wellbeing and inclusive growth and building resilience in local communities.”
It is recommended that members review its contents of the report and the final draft masterplan and provide feedback and endorse the masterplan.
In preparing the document officers compared major regeneration projects in towns and cities in the UK and abroad including Leicester, Sheffield, Altrincham, Preston, Bristol, the Netherlands, London, Oakland in California, Berlin, Vancouver, Poland, Delft in the Netherlands and Hull.
The report said: “Rather than being a fixed blueprint, the masterplan provides a flexible framework for long-term regeneration, aligning investment, policy and delivery partners to ensure that projects are realistic and achievable.
“A key aspect of the approach is its sequenced delivery model, where early interventions – such as improving key streets, reusing underused buildings and enhancing connections – help build confidence and momentum, creating the conditions for more ambitious, transformational projects over time.
“This ensures that regeneration is incremental, coordinated and responsive to change, rather than fragmented or ad hoc.
“The delivery sequencing plan for the Whitehaven masterplan is structured into four distinct but overlapping phases.”
