COUNCIL chiefs have spent more than half a million pounds on a shared stadium for Workington without a sod being cut.

Allerdale council has launched a bid to become a host venue for the Rugby League World Cup 2021 but is yet to learn if it has been successful.

But the authority stressed that it was putting together a “prudent financial package” and having “positive discussions with a number of funders” to support plans to build the £15 million venue.

The stadium is planned on the site of Workington Reds’ Borough Park home and the neighbouring former dog track, Lonsdale Park. A planning application is set to be submitted next month for the stadium, which would house both Reds and Workington Town.

The council paid £210,000 for Lonsdale Park after an initial offer of £50,000 was turned down.

The likely project funders are listed on council documents as the Rugby League World Cup and the Football Association though it is understood no firm funding commitments have been made. Officers said the rest of the cash could come from “grant funding bodies” and “potential borrowing”.

The authority confirmed it was yet to complete a business case. “We are currently working on the financial business case and undertaking indicative costings on a range of scenarios and potential borrowing options,” a spokesman said.

Spending so far has included:

  • £157,887.50 – for the design work to RIBA Stage 2
  • £105,422.61 to fund "additional work" required for the design process. This included £4,290.21 for a topographical survey, £12,818.30 on a landscape architect,£35,166.84 on ecology (including tree survey), £11,400 for a flood risk assessment, £16,982.94 for transport assessment,£16,807 on site investigation, and £7,957.32 for a bat survey.
  • £210,000 spent buying Lonsdale Park, Workington from the Moffats
  • £85,862.50 – fee for the additional work required to extend the design process.
  • £39, 750 – fee for the appointment of a planning consultant