Business centre to create 40 jobs

Work is due to begin on a new £1.9m business centre in Cumbria which it is hoped will create up to 40 new jobs.

Small businesses will be able to rent out space in the Maryport Business Centre, near the A596.

It is being built on the site of the former British Industrial Plastics factory on the Solway Trading estate.

The centre is being made possible thanks to £650,000 worth of funding from West Lakes Renaissance, via the Northwest Regional Development Agency.

Ron Simpson, project manager for urban regeneration firm, West Lakes Renaissance, said: "The event marks the start of an exciting venture to breathe new economic life into this derelict piece of land.

Full potential

"Much work has already taken place to prepare the site for development, but now the hard work begins to realise the full potential of the centre in terms of creating jobs and attracting inward investment."

The centre is also being backed by the European Regional Development Fund and the West Cumbria Development Fund.

Cumbria County Council will own the centre which will include studios and a small workshop.

Work begins to the centre on 21 January.