A LONG-DERELICT  West Cumbrian factory site is to be given a new lease of life after permission was granted to develop it into a commercial premises, potentially providing a home for high-profile anchor tenants.  


Property developer Mark Walker and partner Andy Ross, directors of Genr8 North, have been granted permission by Cumberland Council to develop the former Kangol factory at Cleator Mills into a 10,000 sq ft commercial premises. 
Originally built as a flax mill in 1830, in 1938 it became the factory for hat brand Kangol, probably one of Cumbria’s most famous companies.

However, since the factory closed in 2009 many of the buildings have fallen into disrepair, as well as attracting vandalism.

Dilapidated buildings on the site have already been demolished and groundworks have been completed in anticipation of the development beginning.

“We’ve done an amount of enabling work, ready to receive a new building,” said Mark. 
Plant hire company Speedy Hire is set to become one of the anchor tenants, using over half of the area to facilitate work at the Sellafield site.

Mark says work will now commence so the site is ready to begin welcoming occupants by the end of the summer.

He says its location next to the Kangol Park and Ride site for Sellafield workers will make it a natural location for companies in the site’s supply chain, while the former mill building could become a site for incubation units for new businesses. 
Originally from Thornhill, near Egremont, Mark was one of the founding members of Genesis Homes, based in Penrith.

As a local he has a personal interest in investing in the area.

“There’s a certain passion for investing in West Cumbria and seeing it being successful,” he said. 
The design work is being undertaken by Manning Elliott Partnership Architects and Designers, based in Pallet Hill, near Penrith.

Around 100 students from Manchester School of Architecture are also coming up with ideas for the schemes.

Sam Higgins, lecturer in architecture at the school, said the project involved students from its infrastructure space atelier who were studying for bachelors, masters and landscape degrees.  
This is the second project students from the school have been involved with in West Cumbria, following work to develop proposals for the future use of the Florence Art Centre, in Egremont, in 2022/23.