£9.8 million investment secured for Egremont
The money will fund improvements to the former Red Lion site, Florence Arts Centre and other parts of the town
A £9.8 million investment is being put into projects to improve Egremont and create new spaces for the community.
Egremont Town Team and Cumberland Council had already secured £3 million from the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Fund.
Further funding from Sellafield Ltd, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, the Decommissioning and Nuclear Waste Partnership and Copeland Community Fund has now taken the total investment to £9.8 million.
What will the money be used for?
The money will be used to redevelop the former Red Lion site, improve Florence Arts Centre and make it easier for people to walk around and visit different parts of the town.
Plans for the former Red Lion site include more than 1,600 square metres of new public space, a community wellbeing centre, four workshop units for local businesses and two new shops.
At Florence Arts Centre, plans include a new performance space and café, a heritage area and artists' studios, as well as improvements to more than 2,800 square metres of outdoor space.
Historic mine buildings will also be repaired.
The project will also include new signs, improved footpaths and better routes around the town.
Construction at the former Red Lion site and Florence Arts Centre is expected to start early next year and take between 12 and 18 months.
Reactions
Tracey West, Head of Social Impact at Sellafield Ltd, said: "This is a great example of what can happen when organisations work together.
"Through our SiX strategy, we want to create benefits that last for years to come. This investment will bring new opportunities to Egremont, support local businesses, celebrate local heritage and create places where people can come together."
Cumberland Council leader Councillor Mark Fryer said the investment would "improve footfall, increase visitor numbers, and offer new business opportunities".
He said: "It’s a time of real change and renewal for Egremont and the Town Team should be proud of how hard they have worked to bring it about."
The Nuclear Decommissioning Solutions Framework Director on the Decommissioning and Nuclear Waste Partnership, Mike Lacey, said the partnership was investing £1 million in the programme.
He said: "As the closest town to Sellafield, Egremont is an important part and our focus for the next five years."