PROPOSALS to redevelop a West Cumbrian industrial estate into a "centre for excellence" have been submitted for approval.

Copeland Borough Council has received the application for planning permission to redevelop Leconfield Industrial Estate as part of the Industrial Solutions Hub project (iSH).

The iSH will cultivate the wealth of innovation, skills and expertise in the nuclear decommissioning and clean energy sector.

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Leconfield Industrial Estate is the central part of the wider iSH project designed to prepare for the ramping down of operations at Sellafield.

The planning application submitted for the site recently seeks permission for 44,350 square metres of floorspace for light industrial, general industrial, storage and distribution, a hotel and student accommodation with associated food and drink, education and community facilities.

If approved when discussed by councillors, the application also seeks permission for internal accesses, parking, service yards and electricity substations.

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Deputy mayor of Copeland David Moore said: “It’s moving forward at pace now.”

Applications have previously been submitted for a hub building which will serve as the centre piece for the Cleator Moor Innovation Quarter and a meeting point for the various businesses, education courses and teams that will operate on-site.

Councillor Moore said: “We’ve got a general commitment from the NDA and Sellafield Limited to get that building up and running.”

If Copeland Council’s bid is successful, growth at the site could receive a cash boost from the Levelling-Up Fund with £7 million already pledged from the NDA socio-economic fund and £2.329 million from Sellafield Ltd.

The overall vision for the innovation quarter is included in the spending plans for the £22.5 million Town Deal.

iSH aims to retain West Cumbria’s reputation as the go-to place for nuclear clean-up and clean energy skills long after operations at Sellafield ramp down.

Cllr Moore said: “Sellafield is leading the technologies around these clean-ups.

“We envisage having people based at Leconfield but from all over the world. We can export skills out around the world.”

He said that the message to the world will be: “If you want to work in cutting edge technologies come and stay here.

“We want to attract those young entrepreneurial people but we’ve got to create the right environment.”

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