The Edge Coastal Activities Centre

The Edge is a new coastal activities centre in Whitehaven, which is set to boost the economy, attract visitors and provide a valuable resource for local people.

The three-storey building, which has been designed to look like the sandstone pebbles washed up onto the harbourside during high seas, is being erected on land next to the Wellington Inn car park, in Whitehaven Harbour.
The project is being overseen by Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners. Once complete, it will contain changing facilities, a cafe, public toilets, meeting spaces and a mezzanine area for hosting a variety of activities and events. The top two floors will contain en-suite overnight accommodation.

Outside there will be space for parking, as well as storage facilities for equipment.

There will also be a new slipway and space to accommodate outdoor events.

Who is it for?

The Edge will enable visitors and locals to explore the Cumbrian coastline through watersports, as well as acting as a centre for hosting a range of cultural activities. Through events organised by specialist groups, it will become a place for people to train in new skills related to outdoor activities, as well as a centre for learning more widely.

The accommodation is intended to provide a place for people to stay while they explore the area, including walkers and those beginning the popular Coast to Coast cycle route. In addition, it will provide somewhere to stay for schools, universities and other groups taking part in residentials.

What effect will it have?

Funded by Sellafield Ltd's Social Impact Multiplied - SiX - programme and The Coastal Communities Fund, The Edge will sit alongside other projects in Whitehaven, such as the redevelopment of the Old New Quay, the launch of flexible office space at the Bus Station and the transformation of the Grade II listed former Whittles building into a digital and gaming hub called LEVELS.

These developments will together help to create jobs, attract new people, encourage locals to stay in the area and drive tourists to West Cumbria from the central Lake District.

The Edge itself will generate employment opportunities for people in the local area. There will be opportunities for local businesses to support catering and hospitality, and for organisations to co-ordinate a variety of activities and events.

The aim is to build a financially sustainable centre with long-term social, economic and health benefits.

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