Workington
Town Centre Redevelopment
The
artwork for the centrepiece of the redevelopment, The Hub, was the subject of an
international competition won by architects McDowell Benedetti. The
project was delivered to an alternative design by BASE
structures. The Hub is a canopied outdoor performance
space with the first outdoor 3D sound system in the
country.
Further public realm works for Curwen Place at the bottom
of Ramsay Brow (outside HSBC bank) and the Portico at the West
end of Pow St (outside Clydesdale Bank) were completed in
June 2008 and included granite paving, bespoke bench seating,
stainless steel planter casings, and a column sculpture.
The public realm
works also include 'Coastline' and 'Lookout'.
Improvements to the quality of the public realm aspects of the
project were made possible due to a grant from the North West
Regional Development Agency of £2.74m in conjunction with support
from the developers and Allerdale Borough Council.
For more information about each of the individual art
projects, including the car park grilles and toilets as well as The
Hub, Coast Line and Lookout please visit the public art web
page.
Building work on the town centre redevelopment is now
complete.
Locally based Thomas Armstrong (Construction) Ltd were the
main contractors for the scheme. Preparatory works commenced in
July 2004 with the demolition of the former Co-op superstore.
Having successfully signed agreements with future tenants to secure
60% of the potential rental income in September 2004, S. Harrison
Developments Ltd. were in a position to fully commit to the scheme
and declare the development agreement unconditional.
Who was
involved in the project?
S. Harrison Developments Ltd were the partner working
with Allerdale Borough Council and the Northwest Regional
Development Agency on the redevelopment of Workington town
centre.
Allerdale Borough Council members, NWRDA officials and
professional advisors, selected the firm from a shortlist of five
potential developers after a public consultation exercise and two
days of interviews.
What were the objectives of the project?
- Re-establish the town as a major shopping destination
- Widen the town's retail catchment area
- Create a development which co-exists with and improves the
existing town centre
- Attract quality high-street retailers to the town
- Improve the environment of the town centre
- Act as a catalyst for future economic growth
- Provide opportunities for job creation
- Improve long term prosperity