Cumbria-based Sellafield Ltd is planning to create a hub for around 100 nuclear workers in Millom (www.gov.uk/government/organisations/sellafield-ltd).

The company is in talks with Cumbria County Council to regenerate the town’s library and convert it into offices.

The aim would be to create a flexible workspace for employees of all Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) group businesses, which workers would use as a ‘touchdown’ hub, rather than being permanently based in the building.

This would create additional options for people who live south of the Sellafield site, and it would reduce pressure on the county’s roads.

Paul Foster, chief executive of Sellafield Ltd, said: “Creating a hub in Millom has long been an aspiration of ours, and I am delighted to see it coming to fruition.

"Moving people off the Sellafield site frees up valuable space for decommissioning and reduces the number of vehicles on the roads.

"Most importantly, it stimulates economic activity in our towns and makes employment opportunities more accessible for local communities.

"This ensures that we are generating maximum social impact for our communities from the Sellafield mission.”

Andrew van der Lem, head of government relations for the NDA, said: “The NDA is committed to maximising the value of all of our nuclear sites around the UK for the benefit of those communities that have supported and enabled the UK’s nuclear programme.

"This development is a brilliant example of how this can be done, in partnership with the local community.

"We will be explaining how we intend to continue to do this with the publication of our Local Economic and Social Impact Strategy next month, building on the excellent work already happening in Cumbria.”