Whitehaven town centre looks set to be boosted with £2.5m of road improvements.

The new junction and pedestrian enhancements will be part of a multi-million pound regeneration of the town's North Shore.

It aims to transform the derelict bus station and the former bus depot site into offices, a hotel and leisure and residential spaces.

The first phase of a proposed multi-million-pound hotel and apartment complex had been agreed by Copeland Council's planners in July.

Cumbria County Council has now secured funding of £1.67m for the project, with the outstanding £0.8m of coming from Britain's Energy Coast for the highway improvements.

Coun Keith Little, Cumbria County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “This is excellent news for Whitehaven and the county. The council is proactive in bidding to these government funding streams so it’s great to see the effort we put in to making our case paying off.

"This money is all about helping unlock economic growth and the plans we have will help make real improvements to an area in need of investment. I look forward to seeing work start on the ground in the future.”

The funding has been allocated from the government’s National Infrastructure Productivity Fund (NPIF) which is a £23bn source of central government investment for areas that are key to boosting productivity, including transport, digital communications, research and development, and housing.

The council submitted its bid for this latest round of funding in June.

Michael Pemberton, Britain’s Energy Coast CEO, said: “Successful physical regeneration is about so much more than bricks and buildings. Creating the supporting infrastructure is a critical component as we look to develop North Shore into an area that the people of Whitehaven and beyond can be proud of.

“This is a crucial early step forwards in the exciting regeneration of Whitehaven’s North Shore. Britain’s Energy Coast has worked hard with Cumbria County Council to build a successful case to the NPIF and we are delighted to see this hard work and collaborative approach pay off.

"It is particularly pleasing to see more central government funding making its way in to Cumbria to support these key schemes.

Copeland MP Trudy Harrison said: “This announcement for Whitehaven is most welcome as investment is anticipated on North Shore, it is vital that the road improvements are also delivered.

“I’m pleased the Government has recognised the need for transport improvements, clearly more needs to be done, but this is a step in the right direction.

"This is in addition to the Government funding already secured for Old New Quay by the Harbour Commissioners, which Jake Berry MP visited last month.”

Mike Starkie, Mayor of Copeland, said: “The North Shore development is a hugely exciting scheme for Whitehaven. It has already secured Growth Deal funding, thanks to excellent partnership working between ourselves, Cumbria County Council, Britain’s Energy Coast and Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners."