13th October 2022
Work has been carried out to clear a site where a state-of-the-art enterprise hub is set to kick start a development which will help to bring 700 jobs to the North-West region.
A former skip site in the corner of the Leconfield Industrial Estate, at Cleator Moor, has been cleared to pave the way for the new enterprise hub which will bring employment, skills and training opportunities to West Cumbria.
The 4,000 square metre building is set to be created as part of Enterprising Town, one of four ambitious projects that make up the Cleator Moor Town Deal.
Once built, the hub will form part of iSH (Industrial Solutions Hub) – a wider project of international significance designed to create jobs and opportunities for businesses and organisations to collaborate and enhance skills while harnessing a range of economic and social benefits on behalf of the community.
Bob Metcalfe, chair of the Cleator Moor Town Deal Board, said: “The area, which was a former skip site, had become an eyesore. Copeland Borough Council took ownership of the Leconfield Industrial Estate last year and wanted to tackle these issues quickly, to benefit the whole community.
“The work to clear this area has gone well and it’s good to be moving forward positively to ready the site for development as part of Enterprising Town – one of four Cleator Moor Town Deal projects which will help the town and its people to thrive into the future.”
The clearance of the former skip site was made possible thanks to development funding linked to the Cleator Moor Town Deal.
Working with Copeland Borough Council, the Cleator Moor Town Deal Board secured an offer of £22.5 million from the Government’s Towns Fund for four ambitious projects designed to transform the future of Cleator Moor. A final decision on the full funding award is awaited from Government.
Cumbria Waste Management, which won the tender issued by Copeland Borough Council to carry out the work, has completed the clearance of the former skip site at Leconfield within three weeks.
iSH will eventually be based at Leconfield, though its mission is to bring positive change to people’s lives, the economy, and the environment across West Cumbria and beyond. It aims to create an environment within the new hub enabling businesses across the region to collaborate and work with other specialist companies from around the UK and the rest of the world on delivering solutions to industry challenges.
These solutions will then be exported around the globe, helping organisations to expand and create further job opportunities.
John Maddison, managing director of iSH, said: “Clearing the site for the future development of the hub building is another important milestone in our plans which will bring opportunity and prosperity to the area.
“The building will represent our wider ethos, as a place for collaboration, where industry, SMEs, research, education and community come together and develop solutions to industry challenges which will make a positive difference to people’s lives and help regenerate communities across West Cumbria.”