Cleator Moor Innovation Quarter progresses – Place North West

Copeland Council has received outline planning permission for its proposals for a 477,000 sq ft mixed-use development, one of Cleator Moor’s £41m Town Deal Projects.

Avison Young is the planning consultant for the project, which will host the Innovation and Solutions Hub (ISH) enterprise campus.

The ISH is an economic initiative led by Copeland Council with the support of key stakeholders including the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Sellafield, Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, and private sector supply chain partners. It intends to deliver community access to multi-purpose facilities and world-leading training, and provide an investment climate that sustains business growth.

The masterplan proposes to deliver up to 477,000 sq ft of industrial space, a hotel, student accommodation, and education and community facilities.

An 84,000 sq ft central hub will be the focal point of the development. It will provide integrated community building, with space for skills development and training as well as innovation and incubation workshops. There will also be a film and lecture theatre, and café-bar.

NORR has drawn up the plans for the project. ONE Environments is the landscape architect.

The 86-acre site is located on Leconfield Industrial Estate and extends to the vacant and agricultural land adjacent to the east and north.

Access to the Innovation Quarter will be provided via the existing routes from Leconfield Street and Bowthorn Road. Proposals include the addition of pedestrian and cycle access via Birks Road.

An additional 951 car parking spaces are proposed across the site, making a total of 1,147. There will be a minimum of 90 bicycle spaces.

Copeland Council has recruited Tetra Tech as transport consultant.

The project was also part of a successful £20m Levelling-Up fund bid.

ISH managing director, John Maddison, said: “This is brilliant news for the region. The funding will enable iSH to bring opportunity and prosperity to the area through industry, business, skills and social programmes.

“This will make a positive difference to people’s lives and regenerate communities across west Cumbria.”

“Creating jobs and giving people access to opportunities is one of the clearest ways of helping people across our communities. Everyone benefits from a healthy local and regional economy,” John continued.

“To achieve that, we will work with existing people and organisations, looking to strengthen what we already have – filling gaps, attracting inward investment and exporting our excellent capability.”

The application number for the development with Copeland Council is 4/22/2308/0O1.