Preparatory works start on 'Innovation Centre'

Workington Innovation Centre will include conference and meeting room space

Preparatory works for a new multimillion-pound building are under way.

The Workington Innovation Centre, an office and meeting space aimed at digital technology and advanced manufacturing businesses, will be located on Central car park in the town centre.

The car park will close from Saturday to enable works to begin and will remain closed during the construction of the new site, Cumberland Council said.

The building work is expected to be completed next summer.

Alterative parking is available at sites including the nearby multi-storey car park and Brow Top, the local authority said.

Council leader Mark Fryer, said: "There is no supply of Grade A office space in Workington, which limits the town’s ability to attract and retain high quality firms, and there is a poor supply of small units for early stage companies or in-movers looking for amounts of modest space.

"The aim of this initiative is to resolve this, as well as re-energising Workington town centre by attracting increased footfall and expenditure."

Workington's Central car park will be closed for the duration of the construction

The Innovation Centre is part of the Workington Town Deal which will see £23.1m of government funding for projects ranging from a new sports village to changes to Workington Port.

The NHS is also set to build a £15m community diagnostic centre on the same Central site.