A vacant town-centre site where Brocklebanks once stood is set to become a new pocket park after £570,000 of funding was agreed in principle for its purchase and construction.
The proposed green space in Dalton town centre would provide a setting for everyday activities, community events and other gatherings. It forms part of the wider Dalton High Street Enhancements project, but the scheme is not yet fully secured.
Construction timetable and remaining hurdles
Construction is scheduled to begin in autumn 2027, with completion expected in early 2028. However, approval from the Borderlands Board remains subject to a grant funding agreement.
Dalton Town Council must also complete formal resolutions before it can take long-term ownership of the site and responsibility for maintaining the finished park. Westmorland and Furness Council and Dalton Town Council are leading the project with support from the Dalton Town Team.
The land is intended to be purchased by the town council on a freehold basis. The park is included in both the Dalton Place Plan and the Borderlands Town Investment Plan, which were developed with contributions from local businesses, residents and community representatives.
What the public engagement found
Workshops, surveys and drop-in events gathered feedback from community groups, schools and third-sector organisations. The engagement identified the loss of previous play facilities and demand for more green and social space in central Dalton.
Layer Studio Architects has been appointed to prepare the initial concept designs. The supplied announcement says the architects will hold in-person engagement on Tuesday 18 September outside Greggs from 12.30pm to 2.15pm, followed by a session at Dalton Leisure Centre from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.
People unable to attend can respond through an online survey. The announcement says it is open until 21 August on the Westmorland and Furness Council consultation website. More public engagement is planned as the designs develop, before detailed design work and construction begin.
Part of a wider Borderlands programme
The Dalton project is the first of the town’s schemes to receive approval under the Borderlands Place Programme. Its Town Investment Plan is guiding the allocation of £3 million in programme funding.
The wider programme supports renewal and development in 22 towns across the region. Five other Cumbrian towns are involved: Egremont, Longtown, Penrith, Ulverston and Wigton.
The Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal covers Cumberland, Dumfries and Galloway, Northumberland, the Scottish Borders, and Westmorland and Furness. Signed in March 2021, it is intended to bring up to £452 million of investment to the South of Scotland and North of England over 10 to 15 years.
Its priorities include improved places, infrastructure, green growth, innovation, business and skills. For Dalton, the immediate aim is to turn the former Brocklebanks site into a public space for residents, visitors, businesses and community groups.
