Whitehaven Masterplan approved by Cumberland Council

Members of Cumberland Council’s executive committee meet at The Civic Centre to consider the proposed Whitehaven Masterplan which, it was claimed, was a ‘clear and ambitious vision’ for the town.

Under the plan the town’s harbour will be the ‘key focus’ with improved public spaces, stronger connections and reactivated buildings encourage movement along the waterfront, while new destination spaces create linked places for everyday use and events.

Councillor Anne Quilter (Morton, Labour), the vibrant and healthy places portfolio holder, introduced the report and said the masterplan would define Whitehaven as a coastal destination.

And councillor Emma Williamson (Kells and Sandwith, Labour), the children’s services, family wellbeing and housing portfolio holder, said she welcomed the masterplan and added: “What I particularly welcome is that this masterplan brings those ambitions together into a coherent vision.

“It creates a framework to attract investment, support regeneration, improve connectivity, strengthen the town centre, enhance public spaces and help create opportunities for future generations.

“Importantly, this is not a plan that has been developed in isolation. It reflects the views of local people and provides a platform for continued partnership working as projects move forward.”

She said the work would begin next week when she would be the chairwoman of a new task force which would be applying for £1million in funding to help kick start the project.

Speaking after the decision councillor Mark Fryer (St Johns and Great Clifton, Labour), the leader of the council, said that three and a half years ago he stood on the streets of Whitehaven and told residents that it would soon be the town’s turn.

He added: “And what we’ve done, we’ve worked really hard over the last three and a half years to get to this point where there’s a masterplan. published and delivered, with input from the community, which is the most important part.”

Cllr Fryer said the challenge for the community was to work together and put their differences aside. He added: “Whitehaven has had significant funding over the last 15 years. And my challenge is to them is show me where it’s at?

“And this is a real opportunity for the community who’ve contributed to the masterplan to have a vision and a view and the opportunity to change their town. And I absolutely welcome that.”

He said they were working with other partners including the harbour commissioners, the town’s business community, different community groups, who were all ‘crying out’ for a better town and investment in the area. However, he added: “But what we’ve got are others who were talking the town down. And the last thing we want is to talk a town down.”

Cllr Fryer described Whitehaven as ‘a beautiful Georgian town with a failing High Street and everybody knows it’ and that the only way to improve things was by working together and stopping the ‘blame game’. He added: “So my advice to you, from a so called ‘jam eater’, is get on with it. Let’s get on with it, and let’s deliver on behalf of the town, the community and its people.”

Projects listed in the report which delivering the foundations include: the town centre public realm; King Street North public realm and shop front improvements; the station gateway; harbourside public realm; harbourside gateway; King Street South regeneration; and a wayfinding and artwork strategy.

Projects listed in the report for transformative change include: reviving Whitehaven’s maritime heart; the central town centre gateway; King Street North diversification; the former Mark House site; the former Wilko redevelopment; southern harbourside; a C2C hub; senior living community; and the southern gateway leisure centre and a sports quarter.

And it is hoped that a southern gateway residential expansion will provide what is described as ‘sustained momentum’.

The report states: “The plan has been developed to respond to structural economic change, underutilised assets and town centre challenges, while capitalising on the town’s harbour, heritage and Energy Coast location.

“The masterplan promotes sustainable growth, town centre revitalisation and improved connectivity, aligning with Cumberland Council priorities for promoting health and wellbeing and inclusive growth and building resilience in local communities.”

In preparing the document officers compared major regeneration projects in towns and cities in the UK and abroad including: Leicester; Sheffield; Altrincham; Preston; Bristol; the Netherlands; London; Oakland, California; Berlin; Vancouver; Poland; Delft in the Netherlands; and Hull.