A MOMENTOUS offer of purchase has been accepted on a town's eyesore site.

The demolition of the derelict Red Lion pub on Egremont's Main Street took place in February 2020, and left a gaping hole in the town's high street.

And now, after almost 16 months of residents putting up with the derelict site, BEC has stepped in to acquire it, with hopes of development and future investment.

After years of the site being a blot on the town's landscape, Mayor of Copeland, Mike Starkie, is thrilled to see light at the end of the tunnel.

“I am absolutely delighted," he said. "It has been a long process, but this opens up the opportunity for BEC to develop a programme that would be transformational for the town of Egremont.

“This is a significant amount of investment for the town, and the beginning of revitalising the high street.

“As someone who is Egremont born-and-bred, I’m thrilled with this progress, on a commitment I made when I was elected to address dilapidated buildings and revitalise the town with innovative new projects."

He continued: "This is a significant step forward towards achieving that aim. I applaud CEO, Michael Pemberton, and his team at BEC, for bringing their considerable expertise and commitment to developing projects across West Cumbria.

“We have also secured more than £3 million of Borderlands funding for Egremont, and are nearing completion on a multi-million pound flood defence scheme.

“We will continue to seek future investment and growth opportunities throughout Copeland.”

Michael Pemberton, chief executive officer at BEC, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have reached a satisfactory conclusion for the acquisition of the former Red Lion, Egremont, (subject to contract) from Mr Cox.

“The acquisition is now with both parties’ solicitors, who hope to conclude the transaction as quickly as possible."

He continued: “The acquisition of the site is of great strategic importance and supports the wider regeneration plans for Egremont.

“The team at BEC, led by Stephen Holland, BEC’s head of developments, have already developed an outline scheme for the site, and it is hoped that we will be sharing this with the local community very shortly.”