The Eco-Circuit
Rooted in the industrial memory of Cleator Mill, The Eco-Circuit reimagines the site as a regenerative eco-tourism hub, an engine for sustainable mobility, local energy production, and ecological stewardship. It repositions Cleator Moor as a vital node in Cumbria’s green future, where circular economies and community agency intersect to shape a just transition.
Fuelled by locally produced biofuels, the hub activates a network of low-carbon bus routes, connecting the coast, the Lake District National Park, and overlooked communities across West Cumbria. This infrastructural intervention tackles regional disparities by increasing access to natural, cultural, and economic resources, reframing Cleator not as a place passed through, but a destination of resilience and renewal.
The project operates across three interconnected layers:
Energy: A biofuel plant powered by agricultural and food waste, turning local by-products into sustainable energy.
Movement: A bus terminal and cycle infrastructure that prioritises inclusive and accessible transit.
Community and Economy: A co-working space and retail units that foster grassroots entrepreneurship, offering local makers, start-ups, and creatives a platform to grow. These spaces support a new wave of economic activity grounded in sustainability, regional identity, and community collaboration- reconnecting Cleator’s industrial past with a future of local innovation and enterprise.
By positioning biofuel not just as a technical solution, but as a community-driven process, The Eco-Circuit transforms Cleator Mill into a place of production, education, and pride where the energy of the future is made locally, shared widely, and celebrated publicly.
