Britain's Energy Coast Cumbria and Magnus Homes invite submissions to a two-stage, International Open Design Competition for a circa GBP £10m mixed-use development on a prominent site overlooking Whitehaven Harbour.

Britain's Energy Coast West Cumbria has been working in partnership with Magnus Homes to support the development of this key development site on Whitehaven Harbour as this project directly contributes to two of Britain's Energy Coast West Cumbria top priority outcomes: improved quality of business accommodation and to improve the quality and diversity of housing.

The 2,600m2 [0.26Ha] site occupies a fantastic setting adjacent to Whitehaven Harbour and represents one of the most impressive current development opportunities in Cumbria. Over the past decade, the former working port has been transformed into a thriving marina for leisure craft, with significant investment in associated public realm improvements. The redevelopment of the site presents an opportunity to continue this regeneration via the contribution of an active harbour frontage, with improved visual and pedestrian links to the town centre.

The scheme should reinforce the distinctiveness of Whitehaven, and seek to complement, via the use of high quality architectural approaches, the local vernacular rather than necessarily offering a pastiche of it. The scheme should respond to the context of the harbour-side setting and its marina, but should be mindful of its position between the harbour and the Town Centre, to achieve a sustainable development of long-lasting architectural quality.

Whilst allowing Whitehaven to become known as an exemplar of creative, high quality contextual design, the scheme will have to present a commercially viable proposition.

The design competition is open, but not limited to: architects, designers, artists, product designers, and related disciplines. The Architecture Foundation encourages design teams to suggest flexible and innovative yet realisable designs for this permanent structure.