Transformation due for Workington AFC ground

A 3,700-capacity football and rugby league stadium with executive boxes, a fan zone, and events space is on the cards for Borough Park, according to plans submitted to Cumberland Council.

The Cumberland Sports Village would sit on five acres east of the A597 and north of Black Path in Workington. It is being developed by a group with the same name, comprising of Cumberland Council, Workington AFC, and Workington Town RLFC.

A multi-phased project that will eventually lead to a 5,000-capacity venue, the sports village will function as a stadium for both the Workington Reds and Workington Town.

The submitted application is a hybrid, requesting outline permission for the wider scheme and full permission for the first phase.

This first phase involves the demolition of the existing stands, all of which would be replaced with modern facilities located with enough space for the future expansion proposed in the final phase of the project.

Under designs by Preston-based architect FWP, most of the activity at the stadium would centre on the West Stand. This would be built to accommodate up to 1,000 people with wheelchair viewing spaces as well. It would contain a function suite with capacity for 120 seated guests, as well as executive boxes with their own terrace seats.

The West Stand’s ground level would contain a sports bar, with a fan zone just outside. Also in the plans: a main reception, press suite, match day control room, club offices, changing rooms, medical room, and laundry facilities.

Moving clockwise, the new North Stand would be an uncovered terrace with space for approximately 700 fans. The East Stand and the South Stand would each be a covered terrace with a capacity of 1,000 people.

Also on the agenda: replacing the existing turf pitch with a 3G pitch, installing new turnstiles, and upgrading floodlighting.

This is not FWP’s first stadium project. The architect has also delivered schemes for Preston North End, Stockport County, and Peterborough United

Neil Ainsworth, partner at FWP, teased design details for the stadium, saying “As in all our work, we are looking create a true community stadium, with high-quality spaces that local people and groups can use.

“The design will allow for flexible-use and functionality, with options to use spaces such as the hospitality areas for health and community activities,” Ainsworth continued

“It will also deliver a stadium that is energy efficient, utilising long-lasting and renewable materials wherever practical and incorporating green technologies which reduce the consumption of energy, water and non-renewable resources.”

Upgrading the Borough Park ground has been in the works since 2018, when an EIA screening opinion for a new stadium was submitted to the council. This was followed by proposals for a new ground in 2019. However, these plans were withdrawn due to viability concerns before they could be evaluated by the council.

Workington’s £23m Town Deal award from government made the project feasible once again. In addition to money from the government, the project is also supported by funds from Cumberland Council and the Football Foundation.

Should planning permission be granted, construction could begin early next year, with the stadium complete in late summer 2027.

In addition to FWP, the project team includes Savills, Curtins, Wardell Armstrong, Baker Mallet, and PSA. To learn more about the project search reference number FUL/2025/0119 on Cumberland Council’s planning portal.