Copeland Borough Council have shared their vision to transform the Cumbria town of Whitehaven but would need £25 million to fulfil their goals.

The plans are part of a national Future High Streets Fund (FHSF), that local councils can bid for in hopes of securing investment for regeneration schemes.

New images and details released by Copeland Council, show how areas of the coastal town could be converted into modern and digital spaces, with proposals showing an emphasis on cycling provision.

The bid process started in July 2019 and an outline of the business case developed by the council was made public on May 13 2020.

Below is everything you need to know about the proposals for Whitehaven's future.

What is proposed?

The proposed plans to transform Whitehaven's town centre include a digital community hub, new artisan arcades and a focus on cycling provision.

1. A new community digital hub on Duke Street (pictured at top of the article)

The council have released an artist's impression of what their proposal to convert 6 Duke Street into a new community hub could look like.

Under the proposals, the former Whittles building would become into a community digital hub as part of plans to improve connectivity.

2. Utilising the C2C and creating a new cycling hub

The proposals would also see a new cycle hub created in the former Barclays Bank site.

The hub would offer bike sales, bike hire, e-bikes, bike storage, repairs, as well as housing a juice bar and acting as a base for guided tours.

Plans state that the hub would be linked with a seafood restaurant with cycle-friendly accommodation on Marlborough Street.

The council also hope to utilise the C2C challenge cycle route more, to improve the start of the route and make it a flagship of the town.

Plans have a focus drawing in leisure and cycle tourism and making "the most of Whitehaven’s position of hosting three national cycle routes and linking into our Connecting Cumbria's Hidden Coast opportunity."

A cycle hub could be created in the former Barclays Bank site

3. Residential opportunities

The proposals aim; "to develop residential opportunities, focusing on the needs of young professionals and our post-graduate students, with access to communal leisure and workspace."

4. Developing the 'streetscene' and public realm

Under the proposals, the council would look to develop connections between King Street and the harbour, with new arcades created between around Strand Street.

These would include a food court, artisan stalls and small-scale leisure spaces.

The plans would have a focus on support pedestrians and creating safe cycling routes that connect the harbourside and C2C.

A note on the councils website reads: "All the schemes outlined above have a business plan under development to ensure that proposed uses are feasible and sustainable.

"Please note that due to commercial sensitivity, we are unable to provide further details on all the locations of the proposed schemes at this time. "

Proposals could see a new seafood restaurant with cycle-friendly accommodation on Marlborough Street

What does the council hope the proposals will achieve?

Copeland Borough Council say the FHSF scheme objectives are:

  • To visually and physically connect the retail centre and the harbour through creating arcades
  • To increase footfall and improve pedestrian flow onto the main retail street
  • To manage traffic flow and prioritise pedestrian access between retail and leisure areas, creating safe cycleway connections
  • To improve viability by diversifying the town centre through creating a broader mix of uses and space for start-ups and investment
  • To increase the availability of modern SMART living accommodation within the town centre, especially for younger generations
  • To support town centre sustainability through increasing footfall on weekends and evenings based on the leisure and the night time economy

How will it be funded?

The proposals state that the level of investment into the town would be approximately £25 million, with a request to central Government for around £15 million of this.

The Copeland Borough Council website states: "We have secured £1,056,649 from the Local Growth Fund through Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership to acquire land and buildings to enable a strong case to be made to the Government that we are in a position to deliver its FHSF scheme.

"We have also committed £601,483 of our own funds to support delivery of the scheme.

"We are currently in discussion with partners regarding the remaining match-funding."

The council say the scheme intends to create "a more cohesive town" that offers residents, workers and visitors "new and high quality experiences."

The details also note that during the business case proposal phase, the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) provided the council with a delivery manager and a grant of £150,000, against which nuclear power company Sellafield Ltd matched with £50,000.

Any start date is to be determined by MHCLG, but the council do not expect an announcement before Autumn 2020.

If successful, the scheme will be delivered over four years.