Nuclear firm plans prelet West Lakes HQ

Copeland council and West Lakes Renaissance, the urban regeneration company, have acquired a one-acre car park in Whitehaven town centre to develop a new office for Nuclear Management Partners, the international consortium that took control of the nuclear decommissiong plant, Sellafield, in November 2008.

The 40,000 sq ft office will cost £6.2m to build and will be funded by the Copeland Community Fund and WLR's North West Development Agency budget.

Copeland Community Fund was established by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority to pay the council for storing low-level nuclear waste in the county.

The development site on Albion Square was bought from a private owner for an undisclosed sum.

Nuclear Management Partners consists of US engineering giant URS Washington Division, Amec and French nuclear major Areva.