A HOTEL, shops and offices development that could create more than 830 jobs is on the cards for Cumbria.

At the heart of the 11.88 acre proposal is a 300 bed, 30 storey hotel, complete with its own helipad.

The scheme - across the road from the Dunmail Park shopping centre on the edge of Workington - also includes:

  • a 50,053 sq ft shop unit
  • 9,000 sq ft shop/restaurant-cafe space
  • 3,516 sq ft fast food restaurant
  • 22,000 sq ft car showroom
  • 89,867 sq ft of office accommodation
  • 13,893 sq ft of assembly or leisure use, for example, a bingo hall or casino, dance/concert hall, cinema, swimming baths, skating rink
  • 760 car parking spaces and 36 cycle hoops

Applicant J Dixon & Son Ltd, which runs Dunmail Park and owns the land opposite, has submitted the proposal to Allerdale council for outline planning approval.

A consultation is underway with nearby businesses and residents and various agencies, such as Natural England. It ends on April 11.

If it gets the go-ahead, managing director Donald Dixon said it would be built over three to four years.

Mr Dixon added: "This can bring jobs and facilities and we're offering things that are more than at present.

"It's all part of a package which will be of benefit to people in the area and I think it's exciting from a lot of people's point of view.

"It will be a boost for the economy and will be quite significant. Workington needs jobs and facilities that will be able to compete with other places and attract people to work in the area.


Donald Dixon

"We're hoping to open in three to four years but it will be in stages."

The site comprises the area that was the location of a temporary Tesco store following the 2009 floods, waste land and three industrial units at St Helens Business Park.

The hotel, says a design and access statement that accompanies the application, is aimed at the tourist trade and key workers at Sellafield. It would be of similar height to eight wind turbines that are just outside the site's western boundary, says the document.

"So although it will be of significant height, it will not be too imposing," it adds.

The design statement also says: "The hotel, being of significant height, will be an iconic structure being instantly recognisable in the surrounding areas, being a draw to the site encouraging footfall."

The shopping and food elements would aim to "enhance the already popular retail destination that is Dunmail Park shopping centre."

Talks have already begun with businesses, including hotel chains but no brand names have been attached to any of the buildings.

Dunmail Park has an Asda superstore, multi-screen cinema, various shops and a car showroom.

If the scheme is built, the application says the new site would be 'split' into two zones with separate access points to ease pressure at junctions onto the A596.

A new light-controlled access opposite Dunmail Park is also indicated on the plans.

Buildings would be orientated to create "sheltered landscaped courtyards and external break out space for all the uses." They would be set back from the A596 to provide car park space at the front.

The hotel would be set further back to try and ensure it does not dominate the area.

The proposal says two of the three existing St Helen's industrial units would be retained with the larger unit being demolished and replaced with a purpose-built building.

The Jump Mania trampoline centre, which has taken over a unit on St Helens, will still be able to trade as normal if the plans are approved.

Consultee Butterfly Conservation Cumbria has already responded to the scheme, saying part of the site holds a small colony of rare Small Blue butterflies as well as a colony of reptiles/common lizards.

It adds: "At this point Butterfly Conservation Cumbria (BCC) are not objecting to this planning application which looks to be a good step forward for the town of Workington.

The group says it wants to see conditional mitigation measures imposed to help the butterfly.

Dixons has been trading in west Cumbria for more than 100 years. Apart from Dunmail Park, it also has a department store in Whitehaven.

<hr> View the application and associated documents:
http://planning.allerdale.gov.uk/portal/servlets/ApplicationSearchServlet?PKID=142210