Contractor Appointed For Next Phase Of Workington Sports Village
A contractor has been appointed to begin preparatory work on the major Cumberland Sports Village development in Workington.
Story Contracting Ltd will carry out the initial enabling works at the Borough Park Stadium site and neighbouring Lonsdale Park as the project moves towards its main construction phase.
The first stage of the work is expected to take around three months and will prepare the site for the wider development. The programme will include a range of safety, clearance and infrastructure activities.
Initial preparations will include installing site security measures and temporary fencing around the development area. A construction compound and laydown area will also be established to support the works.
The contractor will also undertake asbestos removal as part of the preparation programme. Utility diversions and disconnections are planned alongside the removal of existing infrastructure and equipment from the site.
Existing stadium infrastructure will also be removed during the enabling phase. This includes pitch side posts, turnstiles and floodlighting columns, together with associated equipment and structures.
The work will also see existing seating and dugouts removed from the Borough Park Stadium site. These measures are intended to clear the area and allow subsequent construction activity to proceed.
The completed development will provide a new shared stadium for Workington AFC and Workington Town RLFC. The project is also intended to create wider sporting and community facilities for people across the area.
Additional community sports facilities are planned on the site of the former greyhound track at Lonsdale Park. The development therefore extends beyond the new stadium itself and is designed to provide a broader sports destination.
A reserved matters planning application has been submitted for a stadium capable of accommodating up to 5,000 spectators. The application represents another stage in the process of bringing the proposed venue forward.
Procurement is continuing for the main contractor who will oversee the principal construction phase. That phase is currently scheduled to begin in January 2027, following completion of the initial enabling works.
Cumberland Council leader Mark Fryer described the sports village as one of the area's most significant investments in sports and community infrastructure. He said the development would provide a modern shared home for the two clubs while creating opportunities for people of different ages to participate in sport and physical activity.
Fryer also said the appointment of Story Contracting represented an important milestone for the scheme. The council expects the development to deliver longer term benefits for the local community as the project progresses.
Andy Clode, managing director of Story Contracting's construction division, said the company was pleased to be involved in a project considered important to Workington and the surrounding area. He added that the company would begin the initial phase while also delivering community initiatives alongside the work.
The appointment marks a further step forward for the Cumberland Sports Village after planning and development work on the wider scheme. With site preparation now moving ahead and main construction planned for January, the project is progressing towards the creation of a new sporting base for Workington.
The development is expected to provide facilities for established local sports clubs while also supporting wider participation in physical activity. Its progress will now depend on the completion of the enabling works and the appointment of the main construction contractor.
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