BEC charged with govt-backed Pioneer Park masterplan
Set to be published later this year, the masterplan will make the case for building a nuclear, solar, or wind energy generation facility on 400 acres near Sellafield in Moorside.
Pioneer Park, as the scheme has been dubbed, is due to lean into Cumbria’s history as an energy powerhouse – particularly in the realm of nuclear. The project is being supported by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Cumberland Council.
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Development and property management company BEC is currently running a market engagement exercise to help inform the future masterplan. Accordingly, it is reaching out to redevelopment and clean energy companies to source their thoughts on how best to use the land.
BEC chief executive Michael Pemberton elaborated on the purpose of the engagement exercise.
“This process will help us to better define what opportunities would best deliver our ambitions for Pioneer Park and bring the greatest benefit to our community,” he said.
“We will move forward at speed while considering carefully all the information and ideas that we gain through the process.”
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Cumberland Council Leader Cllr Mark Fryer added that BEC was “ideally placed” to lead the engagement and masterplan work for Pioneer Park.
“This is early but important progress on our development of Pioneer Park,” Fryer stated. “I look forward to hearing what the market thinks of our proposal, and I will be very interested in the ideas that are brought forward to benefit our community.”
Those interested in sharing thoughts on how the land might be best used are encouraged to contact BEC directly by emailing [email protected].
The profit-for-purpose BEC, like Pioneer Park, is a Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and Cumberland Council initiative. Its past projects include the transformation of the bus station in Whitehaven into a series of workspaces, The Peddler restaurant, and the start-up support hub Barclays Eagle Labs.
The company is also behind the masterplan for Westlakes Science Park and Blencathra eco-workshops near Keswick.
