News and Views

Maryport’s tourism offer is being boosted by a £300,000 camping park development at the harbour, supported by Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (CLEP).

The Maryport Harbour Camping Park will provide 24 serviced caravan and motorhome pitches and ‘glamping pod’ options, as well as an amenities block and café, which will open next Spring.

Once fully operational, it is expected to bring over 10,000 extra overnight visitors to the town across the full year and create 4 jobs directly.

CLEP Board member for Transport and Infrastructure Dr Steve Curl recently visited the development to view progress.

He said: “CLEP was delighted to be able to invest £123,000 from the Growing Our Potential Fund into this extremely worthwhile project.

“The camping park is beautifully located and will add a new dimension to the tourism accommodation offer for Maryport and the Cumbrian coast. It will help satisfy the growing demand from visitors, who are keen to explore all that Cumbria has to offer by visiting different locations.

“It is clear that COVID-19 has changed people’s views on travel with many more people now choosing to holiday at home in the UK. This is likely to continue, so the park is a really welcome new facility to meet this growing demand.”

The park is forecast to generate additional visitor spend in Maryport of over £500,000 per year along with supporting further jobs creation in the town.

(Work underway to transform land at Maryport Harbour and Marina into a 24 pitch caravan and motorhome facility.)

Michael Cowen, Chair of the Maryport Harbour and Marina, said: “We’re very pleased to have received the LEP’s help through the Growing Our Potential Fund because we couldn’t have done this otherwise.

“We hope the expanded park will make a real contribution to the redevelopment plans for Maryport and we look forward to bringing another 10,000 people to the town every year. We’re also pleased that in Thomas Armstrong we are using a contractor from just down the road.”

Thomas Armstrong Construction, who have a long history of delivery on construction projects for Maryport Harbour, won the contract and started on site earlier this month. They are aiming to complete the project in just three months with the utility block being factory-built in Flimby and then assembled on site.

Managing Director David Atkinson said: “As a local company, Thomas Armstrong Construction is proud to have been awarded the project and will work closely with Maryport Harbour and Marina Ltd to complete the project on budget and in good time for the next visitor season.”