Cleator Moor’s £41m Town Deal moves forward

Cumberland Council has submitted plans to create a cultural community hub alongside an enhanced public realm at Market Square as part of its revitalised town initiative.

The authority has worked with OPEN Architecture on the proposals, which aim to tackle the issue of under-used buildings and improve the presentation and perception of Cleator Moor town centre.

Plans focus on the the grade two-listed library and Town Hall buildings. The two buildings will be connected via a new extension to create Cleator Moor Community Hub.

The hub would feature a café, exhibition and arts space, tourist information and reception point, a soundproofed digital media studio, and services for youth provision and employability support.

A number of improvements to the Market Square public realm are also proposed. These improvements include the removal of surrounding railings and the restoration of the town’s 1903 Memorial Fountain next to the high street.

Existing car parking spaces would also be replaced to provide electric vehicle charging bays, as well as enhanced accessible spaces.

Further designs focus on pedestrian safety, with plans to enhance passive surveillance through more active frontages on Cragg Road and Market Street.

OPEN Architecture designed the scheme. Credit: via OPEN

The £5m project forms part of Cleator Moor’s wider £41m Town Deal investment, which focuses on four areas: revitalised town, enterprising town, healthy town, and connected town.

As part of the wider revitalised town initiative, the Phoenix Enterprise Centre off Cragg Road is also set to be refurbished.

The Cleator Moor Town Deal Board secured £22.5m for the large-scale regeneration last November, along with a further £18.4m from match funders.

The project team for the Market Square scheme includes BB Heritage Studio and WSP.

To find out more about the plans, search for application number 4/23/2253/0L1 on Cumberland Council’s planning portal.