Plans revealed for football and rugby stadium
Cumberland CouncilNew plans have been revealed for a stadium which would house a town's football and rugby teams.
If approved, Cumberland Sports Village in Cumbria will have capacity for 3,700 Workington AFC and Workington Town RLFC fans - 2,700 seated and 1,000 standing.
Last year Cumberland Council agreed last year to spend £235,000 on designing the new stadium.
Cumberland Sports Village spokesman Dave Bowden said the new ground had the potential to "create lasting benefits for Workington AFC, Workington Town RLFC and the whole community".
As part of the plans, the existing stands will be demolished and replaced.
The West Stand, the stadium's main structure, will including seating for about 1,000 people, wheelchair viewing spaces, a large function suite, executive boxes and a sports bar and external fan zone.
Covered stands will be built on the South and East sides of the ground, with an uncovered North Stand.
The existing pitch will also be replaced with a 3G playing surface and new floodlights will be installed.
'Inspiring future generations'
Workington AFC said the development would provide a "modern, high-quality facility" for the first team, youth development and the club's community programmes.
A Workington Town RLFC spokesperson said: "We believe that the project will inspire future generations to want to watch and play sport in this facility.
"We feel the project is of the right scale, with a sensible and realistic approach, and will provide lasting benefits for Workington and West Cumbria."
The stadium will also have facilities for meetings, conferences, community events.
Cumberland Council leader, Mark Fryer, said: "It is fantastic that we now have some revised detailed designs for a venue which will cement our status as major players on the sporting map."
Plans to develop a new stadium have been in the works for more than five years and have been scaled back from an initial design for 8,000 fans.
After the now-defunct Allerdale Borough Council dropped the project, the region missed out on hosting a Rugby League World Cup match because it did not have a suitable stadium.
Public engagement events are to be held to get feedback on the plans, which are expected to be submitted to the council at the end of July.
If approval is given, it is hoped construction will begin in early 2026 and be completed in 2027.