Town's Innovation Centre plans approved

The building will have facilities for digital technology and advanced manufacturing businesses

A planning application for a new business hub has been approved.

Cumberland Council formally agreed to the Workington Innovation Centre project, which would see "purpose-built accommodation" for sectors including digital technology.

Preparatory work on the four-storey development, to be located on part of the Central Car Park in the town centre, began in July.

It has been funded through the £23.1m Workington Town Deal, approved by the Conservative government, which includes a new sports village and improvements to the port.

The Labour-led local authority said construction on the Innovation Centre would start in the autumn, with the building expected to open in early 2026.

It will primarily facilitate digital technology and advanced manufacturing businesses, the council said.

There will be private and informal meeting rooms, conference spaces, and catering facilities for those using the building as well as events, the council said.

John Coughlan, chairman of the Workington Town Deal Board, said: "We know there is a lack of accommodation for those companies which are just starting out, or who want to kick start their growth, in west Cumbria, and grade A office space is virtually non-existent.

"The Innovation Centre will provide the foundations for new brilliance in Cumberland, and the facilities to make it happen."

Further development is taking place nearby, including a £19m Community Diagnostic Centre offering MRI, CT and ultrasound scans, which officials said would reduce waiting times.