AMBITIOUS plans for Egremont will forge ahead now vital funding has been secured.

Egremont Town Team, working with Cumberland Council, had been awarded £3m from the government’s Borderlands Inclusive Growth fund. Now Sellafield Ltd, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and the Decommissioning and Nuclear Waste Partnership (DNWP) are to invest an additional £5.74 million, and the Copeland Community Fund will add £1 million. 

Under the £9.74m scheme, the former Red Lion site on Main Street will become an impressive community space with buildings for local businesses and areas for leisure; Florence Mine buildings will be conserved, with the arts centre transformed inside and out; and there will be improvements to connectivity across the town.

Leader of Cumberland Council, Cllr Mark Fryer, said:

“This is tremendous news - I am so pleased to see these developments gather pace. It’s a time of real change and renewal for Egremont and the Town Team should be proud of how hard they have worked to bring it about.

“These investments will improve footfall, increase visitor numbers, and offer new business opportunities. I am delighted that, collectively, we have grasped this opportunity to give Egremont the vibrant and resilient economy, and first-class cultural offer, that it deserves. We are demonstrating that by inviting partners to bolster investment, we can together significantly increase the impact on communities and trigger outcomes that make a real difference."

Euan Hutton, Chief Executive Officer at Sellafield Ltd, said:

"Sellafield is part of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority group which invests around £15 million each year in projects that enable permanent and sustainable change in its site communities.

“This investment demonstrates the power of partnership and what can be achieved when public and private funding are brought together with a shared purpose. By working closely with our supply chain and partners, we have been able to unlock additional private sector investment, secure meaningful social impact commitments, and maximise the value of existing funding.

“This is about more than bricks and mortar, it’s about creating lasting opportunities for local people, supporting businesses, and delivering long-term economic and community benefits for Egremont. Through this collaborative approach, we are helping to multiply the impact of every pound invested and ensure these projects leave a positive legacy for generations to come.”

Mike Lacey, Nuclear Decommissioning Solutions (NDS) Framework Director on DNWP said:

“Decommissioning is what brings us here, but it’s not all we do. Through the Decommissioning and Nuclear Waste Partnership, we are investing in the towns where we live and work, creating opportunities that deliver lasting social, economic and community benefits.

"As the closest town to Sellafield, Egremont is an important part and our focus for the next five years, starting with £1 million investment into this programme. Our social impact plan is ambitious, and this investment demonstrates how we are turning those commitments into action.

"This is just the start in Egremont, the catalyst for further regeneration, investment and opportunity that we will be proud of."

Emma Moynihan, Copeland Community Fund manager, said: “We are delighted to play a part in bringing these transformational projects forward and helping turn Egremont’s vision into reality. Copeland Community Fund’s £1m investment reflects the strength of partnership working and our shared commitment to delivering positive outcomes for the whole community in Egremont.”

The development at the former Red Lion site on Main Street will provide new opportunities for businesses, community activity, and town centre vitality, featuring:

More than 1,600sqm of new public space

A new multi-use community wellbeing building

Four new workshops

Two new retail units 

Key features of the Florence Arts Centre project are:

A new performance space and café

A new heritage area and artists’ studios

More than 2,800sqm of improved outdoor space

The conservation of the mine buildings for future generations

Egremont Town Team Chair, Cllr Sam Pollen, said:

“It is fantastic to see all the funding fall into place for these exciting improvements.

“The Red Lion site has been derelict too long and now it will become part of the beating heart of the main street. The impressive suite of improvements at Florence will draw people here to enjoy arts and culture in a historical setting. Used to trigger further investment, this could mean an economic renaissance for Egremont.”

Simon Walker, Chair of Egremont and Area Regeneration Partnership Ltd, Florence Mine, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to give Egremont the facility it deserves, celebrating our heritage, shared stories and creativity.

"The renovated arts centre building will be more comfortable and accessible, providing even more opportunities for creative and heritage activities. It will be a place created for and by local people, as well as serving visitors to the town. 

“We’re also excited by the opportunity to take more of our work into the town centre at the former Red Lion site."

The Connecting Egremont project scheme is still in development. It aims to bring more people into the town centre to enjoy the space and support businesses. Possible options include safer access and improved public space at Market Place; the creation of a Town Trail; better signs for information and directions; and improvements at Beck Green car park.

The Florence Mine and Main Street projects both have planning permission. Work on the schemes should begin in early 2027 and take around 12 to 18 months to complete.