About Copeland
The Borough of Copeland is located in the Western Lake District area of Cumbria. The Council’s headquarters are in Whitehaven, where the historic harbour has been fully restored and there is a wealth of fine Georgian architecture.
Copeland covers an area of some 284 square miles, including a superb coastline and the mountains and lakes that lie to the east in the National Park, including England’s highest mountain, Scafell Pike, and its deepest lake, Wastwater. The majority of the 70,000 population is concentrated in the coastal strip served by the A595 and West Coast rail line. This rail route is itself a scenic journey with views of the Lake District, coastal features and beaches and across the sea to the Isle of Man and Scotland. The main road link is via the A66 from junction 40 of the M6 at Penrith.
But this is no scenic backwater. Copeland has a rich industrial heritage of mining, shipping and manufacturing, but since the mid twentieth century has become dominated by the presence of the nuclear industry. The sector is undergoing major change which will have a fundamental effect on the community. A key priority is to respond to the challenges and opportunities that this brings.
Exciting proposals to create ‘Britain’s Energy Coast’ are well advanced. The area’s Masterplan is intended to transform West Cumbria into a world-class centre for excellence in energy and environmental technologies, creating thousands of jobs, giving the Cumbrian economy a massive boost and helping to make a significant contribution towards the Government’s response to climate change. The plan is a far reaching programme that includes new business parks, a national academy for nuclear skills, a new hospital and major improvements to transport links and housing. There are also several potential nuclear new build sites within the borough.