A BID to build a museum and visitor’s centre on the site of a former navy base will be re-considered by the planning committee next week.

Allerdale Council’s development panel initially considered the application to build a visitor centre on land at Derwent Forest in April.

But members of the committee agreed with a proposal from Councillor Janet Farebrother to defer the application until a site visit is carried out and the applicant presents their masterplan.

Derwent Forest Development Consortium submitted the bid as part of a proposed wider redevelopment of the land which previously housed a Royal Navy Arms Depot.

READ MORE: 71 home Derwent Forest development refused by planning panel

The applicant hopes that the proposal is the first step to public access of the site which is currently fenced-off.

A planning application submitted by the consortium to build 71 homes was refused by the panel in March. Councillors were concerned that the 71 home housing development did not fit in with the vision for the site and that development at Derwent Forest is being done in a piecemeal way.

The development panel will look again at the consortium’s proposal for a museum at the site on Tuesday May 10.

Councillors will visit the Derwent Forest site before the meeting and the applicant will give a presentation on their wider ambitions for the site.

If approved, the consortium will build a modern two-story flat roof building with a reception area, shop, café and learning area.

The educational aspect of the museum/visitor centre will cover the site’s history serving both the Royal Navy and the mining industry.

Derwent Forest Development Consortium has made amendments to the plans, removing plans for a 14 metre observation tower from the design.

The public can view and comment on all applications submitted to Allerdale Borough Council for approval.

To view applications submitted for your area, visit: https://www.allerdale.gov.uk/en/planning-building-control/planning-applications/