The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority

 

A £5.7m socio-economic investment from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) and Nuclear Management Partners (NMP), the parent body for Sellafield Ltd, will fund a massive improvement programme at the Port of Workington in West Cumbria.

NDA are contributing £1.7m for infrastructure improvements at the Port which will improve the Port's overall capability help attract further investment.

NMP's contribution of £4 million will be used to create a new container handling facility, including the installation of a new harbour crane to enable the port to handle large shipping containers from all over Europe.

The investment is a key project of Britain's Energy Coast and will have a major impact on Cumbria's infrastructure by opening up a regular trade route for local businesses with the rest of Europe. The Port, owned by Cumbria County Council, already has private sector businesses ready to take advantage of the improvements.

John Clarke, the NDA's Executive Director of Business Planning and a Board Member of Britain's Energy Coast said:

"Investment at the Port was seen as a key opportunity to both strengthen the existing West Cumbria economy and also help it grow in the future. The investment is entirely consistent with our support for Britain's Energy Coast and our socio economic policy. It's a fantastic example of the public and private sectors working in partnership, both in terms of funding and delivery"

 

Welcoming the investment Eddie Martin, Leader of Cumbria County Council, said:

"This upgrade of the port's facilities is a big and bold statement that Cumbria has global ambitions to attract more trade and more visitors. The support from the NDA and NMP is particularly welcome when we are laying the foundations for future economic growth. At a time when all the talk is of cutbacks and reductions, the port is bucking the trend with this ambitious project."