Ambitious plans are set to transform the small market town of Egremont in Cumbria, right on the edge of the Lake District.

Under a £9.74million scheme, the former Red Lion pub site on the town's Main Street will become a community space with buildings for local businesses and areas for leisure.

The Florence Mine arts centre will also be transformed into a performance site with a cafe.

Egremont Town Team, working with Cumberland Council, had been allocated £3million from the government's Borderlands Inclusive Growth fund. 

Now Sellafield Ltd, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and the Decommissioning and Nuclear Waste Partnership (DNWP) are to invest an additional £5.74million.

Meanwhile, the Copeland Community Fund will add £1million.

Leader of Cumberland Council, Mark Fryer, called the development a 'time of real change and renewal for the town'.

Meanwhile, Egremont Town Team Chair Sam Pollen said: 'The Red Lion site has been derelict too long and now it will become part of the beating heart of the main street. 

'The impressive suite of improvements at Florence will draw people here to enjoy arts and culture in a historical setting. 

'Used to trigger further investment, this will mean an economic boost and real regeneration for Egremont.'

The development at the former Red Lion site will provide new opportunities for businesses, community activity and town centre vitality, featuring more than 1,600sqm of new public space. 

Plus, it will boast a new multi-use community wellbeing building, as well as new workshops and retail units.

As for the Florence Arts Centre project, residents can expect a new heritage area and artists’ studios and more than 2,800sqm of improved outdoor space.

The Connecting Egremont project is still in development. 

Possible additions include safer access and improved public space at Market Place, the creation of a Town Trail, better signs for information and directions and improvements at Beck Green car park.

The Florence Mine and Main Street projects both have planning permission. 

Work on the schemes should begin in early 2027 and take around 12 to 18 months to complete, according to the council.