Regeneration of Whitehaven

After two years of hard work and extensive public engagement, the plan to revive Whitehaven town centre has now been published!

Read it below

Since the election in 2024, I’ve been co-chairing the Whitehaven Town Centre Board, alongside Cllr Emma Williamson, Deputy Leader of Cumberland Council, and with the participation of Cllr Joseph Ghayouba, our Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner, David Allen, Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners, BEC, and a range of local business and community representatives.

We’ve been driving forward the production of this masterplan and now it has been published we will refocus the Board on becoming a partnership to drive projects forward, removing barriers and keeping momentum going.

Good things are already happening!

• David Allen has put more police on our streets and delivered enhanced patrols of the town centre, driving down anti-social behaviour
• Cumberland Council is stepping up enforcement action against empty properties and dodgy shops
• We’ve secured a new Banking Hub to significantly improve access to financial services in the town – coming soon
• LEVELs and The Edge have recently opened and government funding is being sought for further improvements around the harbour
• New businesses are coming to the town and existing businesses are investing in their premises – as shown by the opening over the last year of Colours Cafe and Gallery 9 on King Street, Mrs McCourt’s Munch at The Rum Story Cafe, the Navigator Bar & Kitchen on Market Place and Candy Cabs on James Street.

I am working with the council and the leaders of our nuclear industry to secure some money kickstart to the funding we need to deliver some of the projects identified in the masterplan. I hope these discussions will conclude this summer and a package of funding will be agreed.

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