A bid for nearly £25m to fund plans including a new leisure and fitness centre with a swimming pool in Millom will be put before the Government this week.

Copeland Council, along with a range of partners, hopes to secure nearly £25m to “revitalise and better connect” Millom and Haverigg, investing the vast sum into a number of projects.

These include the creation of a new multi-purpose centre – incuding a pool – as well as a transformation of the coastal lagoon between Millom and Haverigg into a "major visitor attraction".

This "Iron Line" project would create a new park "fusing ecology heritage and art", made fully accessible to walkers and cyclists.

The local authority agreed on the final submission yesterday, with the bid set to be presented to the Government by Friday.

In order to secure a share of the funding, Copeland Council has worked with public and private sector partners through a Town Deal Board to put together the bid.

Robert Morris-Eyton, chairman of the Millom Town Board, descibed the bid for £24.01m as a "unique opportunity" for the town and the nearby village of Haverigg.

"I firmly believe that the plan we are putting forward realises our long-term ambitions for the area; to create a vibrant town, revitalise the economy and transform our outlook."

Mr Morris-Eyton said the bid was being submitted "on behalf of the town".

"Having been informed by extremely high levels of engagement and support from our wonderful community, we strongly believe we are delivering what the town would like to see," he said.

“I would like to commend the board for adapting to the most challenging of circumstances to achieve everything we have achieved to get to this submission.”

The Towns Fund is a £3.6bn Government pot set to be distributed among more than 100 towns and small cities.

The investment plan for Millom also aims to bring a number of "vacant and underused" heritage buildings in Millom back into use – for residential, retail cultural or other purposes.

It also seeks to improve the transport connectivity between Millom and Haverigg, particularly for those walking and cycling, and to strengthen Millom Railway Station as a "transport hub".

Mr Starkie said he "firmly" believes the investment plans will help to create a "sustainable and prosperous future" for Millom.

He added that the plans "tick every box" in terms of meeting local priorities: "encouraging employment, harnessing growth and innovation, improving health and wellbeing, facilitating regeneration, and enhancing our visitors economy, transport and accessibility."

Conservative MP for Copeland, Trudy Harrison, said there was "huge potential to be unleashed" in Millom.

Mrs Harrison added that this is "what the Towns Fund bids are designed to do; playing to existing strengths, working with community leaders, creating springboards for future growth and tapping into emerging markets."

“Priority projects include developing Leconfield Industrial Estate in Cleator Moor securing the much-needed pool for Millom, but much more could and should be achieved.”