The £6.1 million redevelopment of Whitehaven’s derelict bus station is being hailed as a monumental success two years after its opening.
The Bus Station opened as a collaborative business community for innovative start-ups and high-growth companies complete with The Peddler a contemporary restaurant and bar on May 25 2021.
Property developers BEC first brought the scheme to the drawing board in November 2017, and after securing funding from Sellafield Ltd through their SIx programme began the incredible task of re-developing and bringing the site to life in June 2019.
Since opening The Bus Station has been home to 42 thriving businesses, with over 200 businesses supported by Barclays Eagle Labs who operate the space.
Michael Pemberton, chief executive officer of BEC, said: “The Bus Station is a success story, there, I’ve said it. It’s an amazing story of vision, commitment, tenacity, resilience, and innovation. It’s a story of simply brilliant partnerships that don’t just talk about making things happen but get on and deliver them. It’s a story of meaningful collaboration and a celebration of our terrific Cumbrian supply chain.
“The reality of the Bus Station is a simple one – without our partners Sellafield, the NDA, Copeland Borough Council, as it was then, this would not have been possible. The steadfastness shown towards the development, and since, is a glowing endorsement to partnerships that share the same desire to create a better place for our communities the thrive.
“The Bus Station’s beating heart is provided by the teams at Barclays Eagles Labs, The Peddler and the wonderful start-up business that are proud to call it their home. It is also provided by those who visit, whether it’s for a drink, a bite to eat or to engage with the business within it – in truth, seeing the Bus Station realise the vision is why we must not be defined by it but motived to do more developments that have this DNA running through them.”
Osprey Management Group operates The Peddler a 125-seat destination restaurant within the development. It has welcomed over 130,000 customers and spent over £700,000 on wages for local employees, 80 per cent of whom have been a part of The Peddler since it opened.
Craig Lowery, director of Osprey Management Group, said: “Our relationship with BEC started about four years ago when they had very ambitious plans to redevelop The Bus Station. We embarked on quite an incredible journey with them and two-and-a-half years ago, The Peddler was founded. We came up with the name, the concept, the design, and the idea, working in partnership with BEC.
“At The Peddler, we really try and base everything we do on four key strands. We want it to be fresh, seasonal, local, and sustainable, wherever we can. That’s menus, our supply chain, and our employees. We like to keep everything at the heart of the community, around 70 per cent of our food and drink produce is sourced locally.
“We think during the last two years that The Peddler has brought to Whitehaven a dynamic, exciting venue for food and drinks. We try to bring a little bit of the city culture into Whitehaven.”
The £6.1 million pound development was made possible with funding from Sellafield Ltd’s Social Impact Multiplied (SIx) scheme, Gary McKeating Head of Community and Development at Sellafield Ltd said: “The Bus Station is an example of our Sellafield SIx programme in action. Not only did it regenerate a derelict area of Whitehaven, but we built in an opportunity for local individuals and businesses to start, grow and thrive.
“Although we’re obviously delighted that we’ve funded the development of a sensitive and sustainable building, we’re just as interested in watching the residents grow in a supportive and challenging environment. We invested in growth for our local economy and after two years we’re starting to see the real benefits.
“On a personal level and having been involved from the outset, I’m particularly proud of this project that sits within a programme of work that’s making a real difference in West Cumbria.”
