Borderlands Place Programme drives a further £3.27m investment in Cumbria

The Borderlands Partnership announced a further £3.27 million investment in Cumbria as part of its Place Programme, marking another step forward in the regeneration of market and coastal towns across the region through the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.

The funding package will support three high-impact projects in the county, benefiting the towns of Egremont and Dalton-in-Furness.

The largest allocation, £1.8 million, will enable the redevelopment of the former Red Lion site in Egremont. Led by Cumberland Council, the space will be transformed into a new community hub featuring a café, a workshop space and a community square, creating a focal point for residents, visitors and local enterprise.

Also in Egremont, £900,000 of funding has been approved for the redevelopment of the Florence Arts Centre, managed by the Egremont Area Regeneration Partnership. Located in a former iron ore mine, the centre will be refurbished and extended to include a new café, expanded exhibition space and additional artists’ workshop facilities, among further updates to the building.

Another £570,000 will support the creation of a new Pocket Park in Dalton-in-Furness – a high-quality green space designed for everyday use and community events. The project represents an opportunity to reinvest in land at the heart of the town, providing a safe and welcoming setting for families, visitors and community events, with landscaping, seating, planting and accessible paths integrated into the design.

The projects build on the wider Place Programme’s investment across Cumbria. In Penrith, the refurbishment of the Penrith Playhouse, home to the local arts charity Penrith Players, was completed last year, while the Penrith Wayfinding project is currently underway to improve navigation and enhance the visitor experience across the town. In Ulverston, redevelopment of The Roxy Theatre is also progressing, further strengthening the region’s cultural and community infrastructure.

Cllr Mark Fryer, Leader of Cumberland Council and Borderlands Partnership Board member, said: “We’re thrilled to see the continued impact of the Place Programme with this latest approval of projects and investment. Our programme aims to help communities across the region repurpose, revitalise, and reinvent their towns, making the most of what each place has to offer. By supporting people in these places to shape their own long-term vision, we are helping businesses thrive, increasing visitor numbers, delivering employment stability, and improving town centres for everyone.

“It’s great to see the new projects that will be funded to build vibrant, sustainable places that residents and visitors alike can be proud of.”

Cllr Jonathan Brook, Leader of Westmorland & Furness Council and Borderlands Partnership Board member, said:

“These projects highlight the importance of working together with communities, councils, and local businesses. Through collaboration, we can create vibrant, welcoming towns that support economic growth, strengthen social connections, and provide places everyone can be proud of.”

The Place Programme aims to revitalise 22 towns into vibrant, sustainable economic and social hubs that boost economic activity. In England, these include Alnwick, Bedlington, Bellingham, Dalton-in-Furness, Egremont, Haltwhistle, Longtown, Newbiggin, Penrith, Prudhoe, Rothbury, Ulverston and Wigton. The Programme sits as part of the wider £450 million Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, aimed at driving sustainable and economic growth across the South of Scotland and North of England.

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