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Welcome to the latest Newsletter with its round up on various updates and news articles around the Town Deal projects.
Here are several key points:
Summer has been a busy period for the Town Deal Projects with substantial progress for the new Leisure Centre as we celebrated the steel signing ceremony with our young Millom Town Deal Ambassadors from the local schools in Millom and Haverigg.
This new leisure complex is a community-based asset focussed on delivering for all and complimenting the existing Health and Well-being facilities within the Millom area. The appointment of a new operator is expected in early 2026, whilst construction continues. The aim is to be open by the end of Summer 26.
The Old Bank as you might expect with such heritage buildings, it does presents ongoing challenges as the process of restoration continues. Easter 26 expects the opening of this new community-based building.
The Iron Line was the recent focus of BBC1 Northwest Tonight news piece. This highlighted the beauty of Hodbarrow Nature Reserve and brought attention to Millom and Haverigg. The confirmation of the construction contract award to Story’s marks a significant milestone, with planning permission now being the next major hurdle to get this important project underway.
As we move into autumn, the focus will move to the Connecting Millom and Haverigg. Town Deal project. This initiative aims to improve overall connectivity, making journeys safer and more convenient for everyone whether walking, cycling or driving.
The first phase of the project – will deliver upgrades to Market Square - is set to begin by the end of the year. Works of this nature are likely to bring some disruption, but the Contractor and Cumberland Council are committed to keeping this to a minimum. Regular updates will be an essential element of this project so Residents are aware of what is happening, as this work will clearly impact the town’s roads, parking and infrastructure.
Once complete this project will enhance the look and appeal of the Market Square and complement the work underway at the Old Bank, whilst retaining the essential key functions of the Square.
Thank you for taking the time to catch up on the latest Town Deal news. We’ll continue to keep you updated as projects move forward and look forward to sharing more progress with you in the next newsletter.
David Savage, Millom Town Deal Board Chair
Meet David, one of the driving forces behind healthcare innovation in West Cumbria. With over two decades of NHS experience, David brings both expertise and a strong local connection to his role on the Town Deal Board.
At Cumbria Health, David serves as the Executive Lead for Primary Care and oversees Waterloo House GP Practice in Millom. In his role, he is responsible for operational delivery across the organisation, managing both day-to-day services and complex projects. His expertise spans procurement, workforce development, digital innovation, and identifying opportunities for sustainable growth.
David’s leadership experience extends beyond healthcare. He has served at Board level in previous roles and was Chair of his local cricket club in Cleator for over five years.
Deeply rooted in West Cumbria, David is passionate about strengthening local communities. As a member of the Town Deal Board, his focus is on ensuring healthcare services are more accessible and supporting initiatives that help people lead healthier, happier lives.
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Sign(ing) of the times for Millom Town Deal project
Construction work on the new leisure centre in Millom has celebrated another important milestone - with a steel-signing taking place (Thursday 11 September).
The steel-signing is the equivalent of a traditional ‘topping-out’ ceremony to mark the completion of the building’s steel frame.
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.
 The recent steel signing ceremony marked an exciting milestone for Millom’s Town Deal projects — and local young people were right at the heart of it.
Millom Town Deal's Ambassadors from local schools joined community leaders to add their signatures to the steel that will form part of the new development, leaving their mark on the future of the town.
The students also highlighted how the new facilities will make a real difference to life in the town.
Wil from Millom School said
“I think it will very much improve the PE lessons and I think it’ll make them absolutely brilliant.”
A pupil from Millom School added:
“So I think it’s going to be nice to have somewhere to come in the middle of summer, when you’ve got a day where you’re not silaging or haylining and when you’re not doing all that, where you can come and you can have a swim instead of going down to say, wherever your closest swimming pool is, which could be an hour or two hours to drive to, it’s going to be nice.”
With their signatures now a permanent part of the build, Millom’s young people have shown their commitment to the town’s future — and their excitement for what’s to come.
Funding Approved for the Millom Town Deal Iron Line Regeneration Project
Cumberland Council has approved funding to move forward with the Iron Line project in Millom, marking a significant step in one of the Millom Town Deal’s ambitious regeneration initiatives.
At a meeting of the Council’s executive committee on Thursday 11 September in Whitehaven, councillors agreed to award the stage two construction contract for the Iron Line project. The contract, valued at £7.1 Million plus VAT, has been awarded to Story Construction. The Executive decision is subject to call-in.
This will be subject to the planning application and agreement for lease for the planned visitor centre, which will be considered by Cumberland Council’s Planning Committee. If approved, construction is expected to begin later this year, with delivery aligned to environmental seasons and funding milestones.
The Iron Line will transform the existing Hodbarrow Reserve and former railway line into a 7.5km fully accessible walking and cycling route, enhanced with new public art, cultural features, and a community-led visitor centre. The scheme aims to celebrate Millom and Haverigg’s natural beauty, heritage, and community spirit while boosting health, wellbeing, and local pride.
The new visitor centre will feature a café, group learning and event space, accessible toilets, and volunteer facilities – serving as a welcoming hub for locals and visitors.
As well as providing improved access to nature, the Iron Line is expected to attract visitors, stimulate the local economy, and create a lasting legacy for the community.
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Progress at the Old Bank
 There’s been some great progress at the Old Bank in recent weeks
Inside, the first stage of electrical and plumbing work is underway, while in the Makers Market area the new concrete foundation has been poured and the walls are starting to rise, ready for the beams to be fitted. Metal fixings to the ceilings and external walls are nearly complete, and outside the stonework has been given a soft wash, bringing the building’s character back to life. Roofing work has also been making good headway.
Next up, work will continue on the electrical and plumbing, with construction of the lift shaft raft and the installation of soffits and fascias planned, weather permitting.
Exciting milestones are being reached, and we’ll keep you updated as the Old Bank continues to take shape.
Operator Lease Opportunities for Millom Town Deal
Three property agents have been appointed to promote operator lease opportunities for two Millom Town Deal projects.
New operators are being sought for the exciting new regeneration sites in the town.
Corrie and Co, Home and Finance, and Carigiet Cowen have been appointed to help find operators for:
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The Old Bank – Millom’s former NatWest Bank now with its new name “The Old Bank” is progressing well, marking another exciting milestone in the £29.3m Millom Town Deal programme.
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A new Visitor Centre and Café – a major part of the £10 million Iron Line project in Millom and Haverigg.
The lease opportunities will soon go live. Operators can express interest and view the lease opportunity directly through the appointed agents
Millom Town Deal at the Millom & Broughton Agricultural Show
 The Millom Town Deal Board was proud to attend the Millom & Broughton Agricultural Show 2025 this year – one of the area’s biggest community events.
We set up a stand with full project boards to showcase the progress of the Town Deal projects. It was a great opportunity to talk with local people, answer questions, and share how the projects will benefit Millom and Haverigg for years to come.
We also spoke about our STEM Ambassador programme with schools, helping to inspire the next generation with opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and maths. To keep our youngest visitors engaged, we brought along colouring sheets of the Town Deal projects – which proved a big hit with children on the day!
Events like this are all about listening to the community, sharing progress, and showing how these projects are designed to create a sustainable legacy for Millom.
Thank you to everyone who stopped by our stand – we look forward to seeing you at future events.
The new 3G pitch at Millom School is now live and ready to book!
If you’re a local club, group, or just fancy a game with friends – you can now check availability and request a slot online.
Here’s how to book:
 Visit the website
Check the pitch calendar for available slots
Follow the instructions to request your booking and complete the booking form
Get on the pitch and make the most of this fantastic new facility!
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