19
FEBRUARY 2009 futures
futures
The first cut: new centre
could create 40 new jobs
City's �25m airport clear for lift-off
"Renewing the economy of Furness and West Cumbria
through the co-ordinated delivery of infrastructure,
new skills and sustainable communities."
www.westlakesrenaissance.co.uk Telephone: (01946) 693241
WESTLAKES RENAISSANCE
CEREMONY
SEES START
OF TOWN'S
ENTERPRISE
W
ORK is to start on a �1.9m
business centre in Maryport
which could create up to 40 new
jobs and provide much-needed
space for small to medium
businesses.
The start of work, which was marked by
a sod-cutting ceremony on January 21,
will see the creation of a high quality
workspace on the site of the former
British Industrial Plastics factory.
The new centre will provide space to let
for a wide variety of small and medium
sized businesses near Maryport town
centre.
The development is being made
possible thanks to �650,000 worth of
funding from West Lakes Renaissance, via
the Northwest Regional Development
Agency, �950,000 from the European
Regional Development Fund and a further
�300,000 from the West Cumbria
Development Fund.
Cumbria County Council, which has
previously bought the land, will own the
centre and have a partner organisation to
manage the space which will include
studios and a small workshop.
Ron Simpson, project manager at West
Lakes Renaissance, said: "The event
marks the start of an exciting venture to
breathe new economic life into this
derelict piece of land.
"Much work has already taken place to
prepare the site for development, but now
the hard work begins to realise the full
potential of the centre in terms of
creating jobs and attracting inward
investment."
Steven Broomhead, chief executive of
the Northwest Regional Development
Agency who cut the first sod at the
ceremony, said: "It is crucial for economic
growth that we help existing businesses to
grow while encouraging and supporting
new business start-ups.
"Businesses are facing tough times at
the moment but help is available and
projects such as such as Maryport
Business Centre, which will provide high
quality facilities and new jobs for the
community, will secure the region's
economic future."
West Lakes Renaissance will project
manage the development which is one of
many projects that have taken, or are
currently taking place, to transform
Maryport into a hub for business and
high quality tourism.
Other projects include the �1.7m
redevelopment of Maryport Marina to
create new offices and more pontoons;
The Wave performance and exhibition
centre, which opened in summer 2008;
improvements to Maryport allotments;
Maryport Coastal Park and the building
of iconic Ellenfoot Bridge at Maryport
Harbour. A Masterplan is currently being
drawn up to outline future developments
at Maryport Harbour.
OUT WITH THE OLD: The former BIP factory will be the new site of the Maryport Business Centre
T
HE �25 MILLION plan to redevelop
Carlisle Airport has been hailed by
Cumbria's leading regeneration
organisations. The news of the
redevelopment, which could
potentially safeguard 565 jobs and create
100 more, has been recognised as a
"major building block in Cumbria's
economic future".
Regeneration bodies Cumbria Vision
and West Lakes Renaissance expressed
delight at the decision to grant planning
permission.
Bob Pointing, chief executive of West
Lakes Renaissance, said: "Carlisle Airport
holds huge potential for West Cumbria's
future prosperity by improving the area's
access to new and existing business and
tourism markets.
"Not only will it help businesses
already in West Cumbria, but strengthen
the area's appeal to those companies
looking to capitalise on the many
opportunities that will arise from the
Energy Coast initiative.
"Improving transport links - whether
air, rail or road - will be vital to the
success of the Energy Coast vision. West
Cumbria must now ensure it makes the
most of one of Cumbria's greatest
untapped business assets."
As part of the planning permission,
granted by Carlisle City Council, airport
owner Andrew Tinkler will sign an
agreement to upgrade the runway and
passenger terminal, raising hopes that
scheduled passenger flights will start next
year.
West Lakes Renaissance lobbied the
City Council to approve the Carlisle
Airport development as a key component
of the Britain's Energy Coast Masterplan.
The airport is one of 29 regeneration
projects contained in the Masterplan �
which aims to transform West Cumbria
into a major low carbon energy
production hub for the United Kingdom.
PREPARING FOR LIFT-OFF: Carlisle's new airport
VISION: Andrew Tinkler reflected in a scale
model of the proposed airport development

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