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Welcome to the first Millom Town Deal Newsletter, created in collaboration with Cumberland Council and the Millom Town Board. We plan to release newsletters as significant project milestones are achieved.
2025 marks the groundbreaking start for some of our projects. The prolonged wait has been frustrating, and as a lifelong resident of the local area, I understand that Millom has experienced several false starts and unfulfilled promises.
This is why it has been crucial to stay committed to this journey and turn the Town Deal commitments into reality. With a £29 million investment based on the Government Town Deal bid requirements, we have finally reached a point where we will see tangible changes in both Millom and Haverigg.
We will keep you informed and involved as we progress together.
David Savage, Millom Town Deal Board Chair
Community input is really important for all the regeneration work taking place in Cumberland which is why the partnership with the Millom Town Deal Board continues to be a crucial part of the process.
The group is made up of residents, business people, public organisations and council representatives. You can see who is on the Town Deal Board - Meet The Board - on our Town Deal Website:
https://millomtowndeal.org.uk/the-board/
The Millom Town Deal has secured £20.6 million government funding with an additional £8.7 million in match funding, aiming to foster economic growth, health, and community well-being across the area.
This funding is supporting four transformative projects: the Iron Line, Activating Community Health, Reactivating Heritage Buildings, and Connecting Millom and Haverigg.
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Millom’s new leisure centre has taken a significant step forward after securing planning permission and approval to award a construction contract to Thomas Armstrong Ltd to build the facility.
Cumberland Council’s Executive approved the contract award on Tuesday 18 February and the council’s Planning Committee approved the planning application on Wednesday 19 February.
The new activity and leisure facility also known as Activating Community Health is one of four projects that make up the Millom Town Deal which secured £20.6m from the UK Government’s Town’s Fund alongside match funding.
The Copeland Community Fund has provided £1 million towards the project and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority has provided a £3.1 million grant, as part of its investment in supporting permanent and sustainable change in Millom and all its site communities. Funding has also been provided by South Copeland GDF Community Partnership, CGP, Millom School and Millom Town Council.
Enabling works on the all-weather pitch got underway in January and is now nearing completion
Thomas Armstrong has been appointed by Cumberland Council to undertake the refurbishment of the existing all-weather pitch, supporting the delivery of the Town Deal’s Activating Community Health project.
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We had a fantastic workshop session on Thursday, 27 February. Many thanks to all who attended. It was great to share updates on the Activating Community Health project and discuss what it means for Millom and Haverigg.
During the workshop, we explored exciting updates on the new multi-purpose community and leisure hub at Millom School, including a swimming pool, upgraded sports facilities, and spaces designed to support health and well-being.
Your feedback and support are much appreciated as we move forward.
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 A contractor has been appointed to re-develop The Old Bank, an exciting new Arts and Enterprise Centre in the heart of Millom.
Reflecting its roots in the local community and its historic significance, the centre will now be known as “The Old Bank”, marking its transformation into a vital hub for creativity, business, and community activity.
Alongside The Old Bank, improvements will be made to the public spaces in the Market Square area, making it more welcoming for residents, businesses, and visitors.
Story Contracting Limited has been selected to lead on the Reactivating Heritage Buildings project which aims to bring life back into an unused building and create a valued community asset.
The Old Bank, located in the former NatWest building on Market Square, will provide a mix of spaces for local businesses, start-ups, and the community. The centre will include a café, start-up and maker spaces, co-working areas, and workshops. These facilities will help attract people and businesses into the town and create new opportunities for residents.
If you are a business owner or tradesperson interested in getting involved in the construction of The Old Bank, please reach out to jonathan.reed@storycontracting.com for more information.
Work on the project is expected to be completed by March 2026.
 A local contractor has been appointed to undertake the design and build of the Iron Line, an exciting project within the Millom Town Deal programme that will bring an accessible and inspiring coastal corridor to Millom and Haverigg.
Working closely with the Millom Town Deal Board and Cumberland Council, Story Contracting will help turn the ambitious plans for the Iron Line into a reality, enhancing the area’s natural beauty and creating lasting benefits for the community and visitors.
The £10 million Iron Line project is set to create an inspiring coastal pathway across the RSPB Hodbarrow Reserve, featuring more than seven kilometers of enhanced walking and cycling routes.
This fully accessible route will connect residents and visitors with the natural beauty of Millom’s and Haverigg’s coastal landscape while encouraging outdoor recreation and healthy living. This inclusive pathway will be complemented by a new welcome centre with café, multi-purpose events room, and parking for approximately eighty vehicles.
Cumberland Council is inviting interest from potential operators to manage the day-to-day operations of the new welcome centre and café.
A full operator procurement process will launch soon, the council encourages local businesses and community members to consider this exciting opportunity, aligning with its commitment to fostering economic growth and regeneration in Millom and Haverigg.
The connected Millom and Haverigg project will improve Millom’s transport network to create a gateway to the town while transforming cycling and walking infrastructure in both Millom and Haverigg. The improvements consist of four projects;
- Huddleston Road to St George’s Road and St George’s Road to Mainsgate Road improvements.
- Poolside junction at Haverigg.
- Mainsgate road crossing improvements.
- Market Square public realm improvements.
The scheme is now developing at pace with packages of work being fully designed and reviewed by Cumberland Council specialists teams including highways and lighting.
Some of the works will be delivered by our internal highways teams and some will be procured through a Cumberland Council approved Framework of contractors.
It is envisaged that procurement of the contractors will commence in late spring 2025 with construction works to commence in the autumn 2025.
More information to follow as the programme for the works is developed.
Local businesses were given the opportunity to meet up two contractors appointed to deliver some of the Millom Town Deal projects.
An event on Friday 17 January included representatives from Thomas Armstrong and Story Construction. Further events will be held later in the year.
They discussed their plans for various social value initiative opportunities including working closely with the schools and community groups to discuss the construction industry, volunteering in the community, and recruitment from local agencies/job centres to provide employment and training opportunities for local people.
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Thanks to everyone that attended our pop-up events last year.
We’ve gathered all the questions and have updated our frequently asked questions.
They are available at https://millomtowndeal.org.uk/faqs/
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