This week marked a major milestone in the project to relocate HM Coroner's Service for Cumbria, with the team officially moving into their new premises in Workington. Inquests will now begin to be held at the new site in Allerdale House.
The service is now based out of modern and fit-for-purpose accommodation in the building which is owned and operated by Cumberland Council. The new premises includes two court rooms, family rooms and office facilities, which will meet the needs of the service and those who use it now and in the future.
The Coroner's section of the building is standalone accommodation, which whilst part of Allerdale House, has its own entrance and facilities, and judicial branding.
The soon-to-be former Coroner's court and HM Coroner's Service offices in Station Road, Cockermouth, is no longer fit for purpose and does not meet the needs of the service or service users for a number of reasons. These include the safety and security of HM Coroners and the team, the layout and facilities, accessibility, size and capacity to host larger inquests and primarily the issues arising from an ageing building that is beyond its reasonable lifespan.
Members of the public and partners are advised that there will be no change in how to contact the Coroner's service going forward – with the phone number remaining the same. Anyone needing to contact the Coroner's service in person or has correspondence to send is advised to use Allerdale House as the point of contact from now on.
Cllr Anne Quilter, Cumberland Council's Executive member for Vibrant and Healthy Places, said: "HM Coroner's Service is a vital service for Cumbria carrying out highly important work for the community. The new facilities really are something to be proud of and will meet the needs of not only the service's staff, but importantly, the families, next of kin and friends of a deceased person, as well as the professionals supporting these processes."
Following local government reorganisation (LGR) within Cumbria in 2023, and whilst the service is joint funded by Cumberland and Westmorland & Furness Councils, Cumberland Council was appointed as the 'relevant authority' for the HM Coroners area of Cumbria, and now acts as 'host' or lead authority for coronial services in Cumbria.
Cllr John Murray, Westmorland and Furness Council's Cabinet Member for Transport and Regulatory Services, said: "I'm pleased to see HM Coroner's Service move into these modern new premises. This is an important service for people across Cumbria, and the new facilities will make a real difference to families and staff. We're proud to work with Cumberland Council to support a service that plays such an important role at difficult times in people's lives."
The construction has been carried out by local firm Thomas Armstrong Ltd and overall, the project has seen an investment of around £2 million. The building was designed by architects and engineers at Align Property Partners.
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