Workington is a town that has thrived on industry.

The exploitation of local iron ore and coal saw the settlement at the mouth of the River Derwent transformed into a major industrial town and port in the 18^th Century.

The decline of steel dealt the town an economic blow, but times are changing with the town now diversifying its economy and branching out into other sectors, most notably retail.

The last few years have seen significant regeneration activity. A total of £50 million was spent on transforming the town centre into a thriving, modern retail area called Washington Square. The development has not only raised the standard of the town centre but also attracted to a number of major high street stores moving into the town. This work has been complemented by Derwent Howe Retail Park, one of the largest in Cumbria and a component of the push to reposition Workington as a major retail area not just for West Cumbria and the County as a whole but also for the North West region.

There has also been substantial progress on maximising the Port of Workington, with significant investment into securing the port’s long term future.

The last few years have also seen new opportunities for development. Workington’s industry may have declined but in the wake there are opportunities to transform brownfield sites into mixed business, retail and residential developments. There are also plans to utilise space in the town centre for new retail and sporting facilities.

Meanwhile considerable work is also being carried out to bring the rest of Workington town centre’s streets up to the high standard of the Washington Square development, while at the same time providing a new transport interchange, making it easier to travel to and around the town.