An additional £4.5 million funding has been secured from the recently formed Cumbria Combined Authority to enhance the Cumberland Sports Village in Workington.
The project had previously secured Workington Town Deal funding and support from Cumberland Council for the development of the site of Borough Park.
The additional CCA funding will result in the scheme being extended to include the replacement of all the terraces and increase the total capacity at the new stadium to 5,000.
The revised scheme will be project managed and delivered by Cumberland Council.
Leader of Cumberland Council, Cllr Mark Fryer, said:
“The Cumberland Sports Village forms a key element in the plans for the regeneration of Workington. The project will provide a transformed community sports and leisure offer within the Lower Derwent Valley close to Workington town centre and the existing Workington Leisure Centre, cricket and bowling clubs.
“As well as sport, the stadium will also act as a focal point for both the community and businesses within the area. An improved hospitality offer means the stadium will also be used for meetings, conferences, functions, events and community activities.
“We are delighted that the additional funding has been secured.”
John Barradell OBE, Interim Chief Executive for Cumbria Combined Authority, said:
“One of our first actions as a combined authority - even before we’d held our first meeting - was to secure an additional £10m in funding for Cumbria from Government.
“We are delighted that £4.5m of that money has been allocated to Cumberland Sports Village, to help further enhance the plans and create the stadium that fans and residents have been asking for.”
A design team is in the process of enhancing the existing scheme and a new programme of works and updated timeframes will be produced.
A planning application was submitted for the site last year and incorporated the option to deliver a larger scheme. A decision on the application is expected at the May Planning Committee meeting.
Alongside this the development of the community pitch is continuing to progress alongside the Football Foundation.
The new stadium will be shared by Workington Town RLFC and Workington AFC, who are known as Workington Reds. They continue to be closely involved in the project.