PLANS to build a unique £3 million facility for the local community at Whitehaven’s harbour are taking a step forward.

An application to build the Cumbria Coastal Activity centre has been submitted to Copeland council’s planning panel by the community interest company behind the project.

Celia MacKenzie, chief executive of the Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners, which is involved in the project, said: “An awful lot of work has gone into this project, which was instigated by the Harbour Commissioner but brought forward by a steering group of people all working together. We are determined and we totally believe in it.”

Mrs MacKenzie said the coastal activity centre would be the only one of its kind in Cumbria. She added: “It’s to promote the coast line, whether you use it for sporting activities or you just love the ambience of the light. It’s for local people as well as visitors.

“At the moment we don’t cater very well for the C2C cycle route, which starts here, this building will have storage for bikes and overnight accommodation. Cumbria Canoe Club currently store their stuff in an industrial estate and they’ll be able to use storage space at the centre and launch straight from there. The aim is not to provide activities but to use existing businesses and help them grow, whether they provide water sport activities or training courses.”

Mrs MacKenzie said the project had the backing of the county council, the Local Enterprise Partnership, Cumbria Tourism and Copeland’s MP Trudy Harrison, as well as that of other organisations.

“We’ve got all sorts of people who supported us and when we’ve been out to public consultation the feedback was very positive.”

The building, which will be characterised by an innovative and distinctive design inspired by local sandstone blocks, would be aerodynamic, sustainable and built with materials sympathetic to the area.

Facilities would include a new slipway, ten rooms for overnight accommodation, changing facilities and multi-purpose rooms to be used for training courses, performances and other activities.

A gallery dedicated to Percy Kelly’s paintings would be located in the mezzanine level of the three story building.

Mrs MacKenzie said: “Inside it’s actually quite a simple building, because we want people to use it for what they need it.”

The building would be located at the base of the historic Wellington Pit, which was operating from 1869 until 1935, and its equipment storage compound would be built on the site of the old Wellington Inn, from which the name of the current car park is taken.

The total internal and external floorspace of the project would be of over 1,300 square metres.

The concept of the three-storey building's design is influenced by the natural forces surrounding the harbour location and takes inspiration from the large sandstone rocks which are thrown upon the outer piers of the harbour by the sea. The form of the building represents the erosion by the natural forces.

Renewable energy is incorporated within the design to reduce the building's energy demand.

Pedestrian access would be provided off West Pier, with an additional rear entrance off West Strand.

Parking facilities would include 16 bays and a mini bus parking space, as well as 22 cycle parking spaces.

The ground floor would host a reception, a multi-use space as well as changing facilities, toilets and drying room for those entering the centre directly from the harbour.

The multi-use space, which is a double height room, is intended for music, theatre, exhibitions and gatherings. With a small bar, this space opens up onto the quayside and connects directly with a public space proposed fronting the new slipway.

On the first floor a mezzanine gallery is intended as both a lounge and breakfast area for people using the accommodation, an informal teaching zone and a gallery and exhibition space, which is planned to host paintings by Percy Kelly.

The second floor would host four double/twin bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms which can be joined

together to create two four-person bedrooms. There will also be five four-person bedrooms, with a double/twin bed, bunk beds and a kitchenette. Plans include an accessible double/twin room.

On the site of the Wellington Inn car park, a new equipment storage compound has been designed as

part of the Coastal Activity Centre, with storage spaces for canoes, kayaks and sailing

dinghies.

The plans are due to be discussed by Copeland council's planning department soon.