Allerdale Borough Council has produced two proposals for the construction of a multi-million pound sport facility as part of the Derwent Valley Regeneration scheme in Workington, West Cumbria.
The scheme aims to make Derwent Valley the centre of leisure activity in Workington and to attract future investment to the area.
Both proposals include a leisure centre with an eight lane, 25m pool with 150-seat spectator area, a learners pool and three changing room sites. There will also be a four badminton court sports hall, three squash courts, a 100-station gym as well as a youth sports zone with biking, skating, a climbing wall and DJ/music facilities.
Option one also includes an upgrade of the existing Borough Park football ground to include 500 new seats and a new 400-capacity standing area – to increase the grounds capacity to 6,000 people.
A new 1,000-seat stand would also be provided for Workington Rugby Club, in addition to the refurbishment of its existing spectator area, which will allow the grounds to accommodate 10,000 people.
Option two, combines the leisure centre with a new 10,000-capacity sports complex for the rugby and football club. The existing football pitch will become a reserve training ground and will be transformed into a floodlit, artificial turf pitch for community use. The complex would also offer training, administrative and hospitality facilities.
Both proposals would incorporate environmentally-friendly features as well as footpaths and cycle tracks alongside the River Derwent.
The regeneration area comprises of a Tesco store – which will be replaced by the proposed leisure centre – the Derwent and Borough Park stadium, a rugby training pitch, small gas compound and derelict Greyhound track.
A spokesperson for the council said: "The surrounding area has been subject to industrial decline, high levels of unemployment and a period of downturn in the fortunes of the Rugby and Football clubs. This has left the area with a number of significant challenges if it is to realise its full potential in the future for recreation, leisure, civic and commercial uses."
The council has worked with Marin Lindus of Saunders Boston Architects and Paul Cluett of QLM Consulting when creating the proposals for public consultation. The council has also appointed SMSR, research specialists, to form a public opinion survey on both plans – the results of which will be presented to the council's Derwent Valley Task Group in September.
