Efforts to make a Cumbrian council more environmentally-friendly have taken a step forward.

Eden Council has completed its purchase of Voreda House, in Penrith, from the NHS.

The move is a key part of its One Eden organisational transformation programme.

The council is committed to improving the building and has commissioned experts, 2030 Architects, to create proposals for making it a carbon neutral and welcoming environment to work and visit, ahead of occupation in the summer of 2021.

The property means the council can move into new accommodation on a single site.

Eden Council leader Virginia Taylor said: “I am delighted that at long last EDC’s ambition to have a single site has come to fruition - and with less expense, time delay, and disruption than a new build would have taken.

“The move to Voreda House presents an exciting opportunity to co-locate with partners – and this is not a pipe dream, but under discussion - to create a new model of integrated public services for the area.

“It will provide greater value for money because the current buildings are extremely expensive to run, and it will enable us to get closer to our ambitious zero carbon goals.

“With local government reorganisation looking more likely than ever, this move to a fit-for-purpose building stands to protect both the locally-focused provision of services to residents of Eden and the jobs providing them – along with all the benefits to shops and other businesses.”

The council is confident this better protects the future provision of services to residents of Eden rather than remaining in its current offices in the Town Hall and at Mansion House.

The Council is being supported by the national One Public Estate Programme to turn its vision into reality and discussions are underway with number of potential partners.