Whitehaven presses play on £4m gaming hub
Flimby-based contractor Thomas Armstrong has been appointed lead contractor of the town’s LEVELS project, which will renovate a grade two-listed building off Duke Street.
Developer BEC, which specialises in social impact development, will oversee the £4.1m conversion of a former Whittles department store in the town centre into a digital and gaming hub.
Visitors will have access to three floors of gaming and VR spaces, recording studios, and digital workshop zones.
A cafe and communal areas are also part of the plans.
LEVELS is scheduled to open in autumn 2025.
Michael Pemberton, chief executive of BEC, said he was “pleased” to announce the appointment of Thomas Armstrong which he cited as a “trusted, local, and well-resourced firm”.
“Thomas Armstrong demonstrated their understanding of the project, expertise, and commitment to social responsibility and care about West Cumbria, its place, and its people.”
He added: “Our local community will see Thomas Armstrong onsite almost immediately.
“In this hub, our youth can seriously upskill, learn, and be inspired in a mix of high-tech and modern sectors that crosses gaming, music, AI, and IT.”
To fund the hub, £2.8m was secured from nearby Sellafield’s Social Impact Multiplied scheme – a pot created to help West Cumbria’s most vulnerable.
David Atkinson, Thomas Armstrong’s managing director, said: “Thomas Armstrong is thrilled to have been appointed principal contractor for this exciting new development in Whitehaven, which continues our long-standing relationship with BEC.”
He continued: “It will provide fantastic opportunities for the young people of West Cumbria and contribute positively to our local economy.
“Thomas Armstrong is fully committed to working in West Cumbria, and this project will assist us in continuing to employ more than 250 people who live and work there.”
