Next step for town's £4.5m clean energy hub

Plans for Oldside’s clean energy and logistics hub are part of the government-funded Town Deal scheme

Work to create a £4.5m clean energy and logistics hub has taken a step forward.

Investigations to establish ground conditions started at the site in Workington, Cumbria, on Tuesday.

The project is part of the government-funded Town Deal, which aims to attract new and growing businesses to Workington.

Cumberland Council leader Mark Fryer said the hub would improve "the area’s environment and economy for generations to come".

The land has already been assessed for pollutants which could be a legacy of the town's industrial past.

The new work at the Oldside site at the Port of Workington will check the content and stability of the land, and be used to inform the design of a remediation scheme.

'Improving the economy'

Cumberland Council, which is managing the project, said the project would allow additional trade and cargo handling at the Port of Workington, with the potential to generate rental income from property lettings.

Council leader Mr Fryer said: "I am pleased to see the next steps get under way on this ambitious scheme for Oldside and the Port of Workington.

"It is a key location for us as we strive for cleaner energy and better logistics access in Cumberland, improving the area’s environment and economy for generations to come.”

Plans also include improving rail links into the port with the creation of a transport hub and an area for temporary goods storage.

Town Funds were announced by the government in 2019 to support 101 places to develop proposals to drive economic regeneration.

In Cumbria, towns involved include Workington, Maryport, Cleator Moor and Millom.