Cumberland Sports Village: Work Starts at Borough Park

There's finally some visible progress at Borough Park. Work has started on the next stage of Cumberland Sports Village, the planned new shared home for Workington Reds and Workington Town.

Cumberland Council confirmed on 15 October 2026 that contractor Story Contracting Ltd has begun preparing the Borough Park site for the main build. The enabling works are expected to take around three months, with the council's last published programme targeting January 2027 for the main construction phase.

That means something important for anyone passing the ground: the fencing, compound and clearance work are real steps forward, but they do not mean the new 5,000-capacity stadium is finished or open. Here's what is happening and what supporters can expect next.

What work is happening at Borough Park?

The current stage is known as enabling works. Before the new stadium can be built, the site needs to be made safe, cleared and prepared for construction vehicles and contractors.

According to Cumberland Council, Story Contracting's work includes:

Installing temporary fencing and security arrangements around the work area.
Setting up a construction compound and areas for equipment and materials.
Removing asbestos from affected structures as part of controlled site preparation.
Diverting or disconnecting utility services where required.
Removing old infrastructure and equipment to ready the site for the next stage.

The council expects this preparation phase to take approximately three months. It has not announced a precise completion day, so that timetable should be treated as an estimate.

What will the new Cumberland Sports Village include?

The main feature will be a new shared stadium at Borough Park with capacity for up to 5,000 spectators. The revised plan involves replacement stands and terraces, together with facilities for both clubs and the wider community.

The long-term ambition is bigger than hosting football and rugby league fixtures. The wider scheme includes improved hospitality and function space, with the potential for meetings, conferences and other community events. A community 3G pitch is also planned nearby, although that element remains subject to its own planning requirements.

Additional funding of £4.5 million from the Cumbria Combined Authority, announced in April, helped expand the proposals from an earlier 3,700-capacity first stage to the intended 5,000-capacity stadium. That's a capacity for the whole ground, not 5,000 seats in one stand.

For a fuller look at the stadium design, stands, funding and application history, read our detailed Cumberland Sports Village planning guide.

When will the new Workington stadium be built?

As of 21 October 2026, the latest publicly stated broad timetable is:

April to May 2026: additional funding confirmed and the main hybrid planning scheme approved, with detailed Phase 2 matters still to follow.
Summer 2026: ground surveys and a reserved-matters application for the expanded stadium.
15 October 2026: council confirms enabling works are underway at Borough Park.
Autumn 2026 into winter: roughly three months of preparation by Story Contracting.
January 2027: intended start of the main construction phase, subject to the remaining steps.

There is no newly confirmed opening date for the finished stadium. Earlier target dates appeared before the scheme was expanded, so supporters should wait for an updated construction and handover programme rather than assuming a particular first fixture.

Has planning permission been granted?

The wider stadium scheme received its principal planning approval in May 2026. But there is a distinction between that approval and the detailed design matters for the expanded stands.

A further reserved-matters application, RMA/2026/0004, was submitted for Phase 2, covering details such as layout, appearance, scale, landscaping and access. Cumberland Council's October announcement confirms the application has been submitted; it does not say that all those reserved matters have been approved.

So it would be misleading to describe the whole expanded project as having every approval in place. The enabling works have started, while other decisions and procurement stages continue.

Where are Workington Reds and Workington Town playing?

If you're heading to a match this season, don't simply turn up at Borough Park. Workington AFC moved to a temporary groundshare at Derwent Park, the Fibrus Community Stadium (CA14 2HG), for the 2026/27 season while the Borough Park redevelopment progresses. Workington Town RLFC also use that ground.

The two venues are close to each other, but not the same address. Check match-specific arrangements and tickets with the clubs before travelling, particularly where kick-off times or entrances differ. You can visit Workington AFC's ticket page for current fixtures.

Once the new sports village is ready, the intention is for both clubs to share the rebuilt Borough Park site.

Who is delivering and funding the project?

Cumberland Council is managing delivery of the revised scheme. Funding support includes the UK Government's Workington Town Deal, Cumberland Council, the Cumbria Combined Authority and the Football Foundation.

The council is also seeking a specialist operator for the new stadium and community 3G facilities, so there's work happening behind the scenes as well as on the site itself. It's another sign that preparing to run the finished venue matters just as much as building it.

The Executive authorised construction procurement up to a maximum value of £16.6 million in May. That figure was a procurement authorisation ceiling, not a final confirmed construction bill, and the award of the main construction contract requires a further council decision.

What does this mean for Workington?

For a town with strong football and rugby league traditions, a modern shared stadium is a big deal. The hope is to replace ageing facilities, give both clubs a longer-term home and bring more sport and community use into the Lower Derwent Valley.

The location is close to Workington Leisure Centre and other local sports facilities, so the project could eventually help create a more joined-up destination for training, matches and community activity. It may also bring visitors into the town for conferences and functions as well as sport.

If you're exploring the area, our Workington guide has more ideas for places to visit, eat and spend time nearby. And if you're following the football club, see our Workington AFC listing for the current groundshare note.

What happens next?

The key things to watch are the completion of enabling works, a decision on the remaining reserved matters, appointment of the main construction contractor and publication of an updated build timetable.

For the official position and artist's impressions, use Cumberland Council's Cumberland Sports Village project page. Cumbria Guru will update this story when confirmed dates and decisions are published.

Sources

Information checked 21 October 2026. Construction dates are targets, and planning, design and operational arrangements may change. Any stadium CGI shown is an artist's impression, not a photograph of a completed building.

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