By C. Perera, JadeTimes News
Preparatory work has commenced on a new multimillion pound building, the Workington Innovation Centre. This office and meeting space, designed for digital technology and advanced manufacturing businesses, will be situated on Central car park in the town centre.
To facilitate the construction, the car park will close from Saturday and remain closed until the project is completed, Cumberland Council announced. The building work is expected to be finished by next summer.
Alternative parking options, including the nearby multi storey car park and Brow Top, will be available, the council added.
Mark Fryer, the council leader, highlighted the current lack of Grade A office space in Workington, which hampers the town's ability to attract and retain high quality firms. Additionally, there is a scarcity of small units for early stage companies or new entrants seeking modest space. This initiative aims to address these issues and revitalize Workington town centre by increasing footfall and expenditure.
The Innovation Centre is a key component of the Workington Town Deal, which involves £23.1 million in government funding for various projects, including a new sports village and improvements to Workington Port. Additionally, the NHS plans to construct a £15 million community diagnostic centre on the same Central site.
