Last updated at 13:08, Friday, 01 February 2013

Workington's former steelworks site will be revamped into a million-pound housing and holiday complex.

Artist’s impression: Eatonfield Developments’ original design for a housing and leisure complex at Workington’s former steelworks site

Persimmon Homes Lancashire is pressing ahead with its proposals to transform the ex-Corus Rail site in Moss Bay, using plans initially submitted by the now-defunct Eatonfield Developments Limited.

It was understood that Persimmon would draw up its own scheme for the site, which it acquired in 2011. But the firm has now asked Allerdale council to remove conditions from the existing planning permission given to Eatonfield in 2008.

The original plans for an £80 million seaside community included 650 homes, a pub, play barn, community centre, spa, hotel, gym and healthcare facilities, a 40-bed care home, shops and commercial units.

The whole development would cover 76 acres of brownfield land.

Eatonfield went into liquidation in 2011 after amassing about £27 million-worth of debt.

The original planning permission included 38 conditions, and Persimmon has asked Allerdale to remove seven conditions about predicting C02 emissions, renewable energy, flood defences, developing it in phases and a £50,000 scheme for public realm works linking the site to the town centre.

It has also asked for a reduction of “affordable” houses on the site so it can pay for traffic improvements including a mini-roundabout and toucan crossing on Lakes Road, improvements to the Shore Lane underpass and improvements to junctions on Bessemer Way and Harrington Road.

The site has been vacant since the steelworks closed in 2006.

Mark Cook, managing director of Persimmon Homes, said: “We continue to work with the owners of the former Corus steelworks site and the officers of Allerdale council to deliver a successful regeneration of the land.

“We recently submitted an application to vary the existing outline planning permission in order to bring the development forward, creating a mixed used development comprising residential, commercial, small-scale retail, community and leisure facilities.”

First published at 12:58, Friday, 01 February 2013
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk