THE future is looking incredibly positive for south Copeland.

An ambitious new development has been announced which will see a 500-home eco-community built in the Millom area.

The modern community housing project, entitled inHarmony, aims to create a new generation eco-community, that will provide residents with both high-quality accommodation and opportunities for creating ecological livelihoods.

The sustainable modern community is intended to be the flagship of modern living and I am fully supportive of this innovative new plan to enhance and revitalise the area.

The development is set to be built on the site of a former iron ore mine overlooking the Irish Sea and a freshwater lagoon.

The village will be shaped to form an amphitheatre for events and concerts, providing a place for both residents and tourists to live, work and visit.

The plans have been drawn up and will be delivered by a multi-award-winning team pioneered by Lord Matthew Taylor, housing specialist.

Lord Taylor announced the ambitious plans at my recent Open for Business Conference held on April 19 in Whitehaven. We were lucky enough to be joined by industry leaders from the nuclear, health, tourism, and mining industries alongside government representatives.

The conference was a huge success, and we were joined by more than 300 delegates who gathered to hear guest speakers including Richard Harrington MP, energy minister, Lord Matthew Taylor and Trudy Harrison, MP.

Presentations were also given by representatives from some of Copeland’s leading organisations such as; Jamie Reed – Sellafield Ltd, Tom Samson - NuGeneration Ltd, Mark Kirkbride - West Cumbria Mining, Professor Cathy Jackson - UCLan and Pat Graham – Copeland Borough Council.

To attract people of that calibre into one room to discuss working together and the future opportunities for the borough was no mean feat.

We were absolutely overwhelmed by the success of the day and the feedback we have since received from those who attended.

Sincere gratitude goes to all those who brought the event together and made it such a phenomenal success.

The inHarmony project wasn’t the only major announcement in the room, Britain’s Energy Coast also revealed its plans for the North Shore area of Whitehaven which will be transformational for Whitehaven and provide a springboard for major improvement across Copeland.

It confirmed that the entire borough of Copeland is indeed open for business and there are many individuals and organisations working towards making it a better place to live, work and visit.

To see the introductory video for the Open for Business conference as well as the video launch of the inHarmony project, go to Copeland Borough Council’s YouTube channel.