Plans to transform a 1,050 acre former armaments dump at Broughton Moore into a world class sports village have been submitted to the Allerdale Council in Cumbria.

The Cumbria Sports Village is the brainchild of two local businessmen and would include indoor and outdoor athletics facilities, a 600-bed holiday village, endurance sports facilities and a swimming centre with a 50m pool.

The project has gained the backing of David Moorcroft, the chief executive of UK Athletics, who said: “The plans meet in full the requirements of the National Athletics Facilities Strategy.

“We are especially keen to have endurance centres spread throughout the UK and Cumbria Sports Village will complement those facilities already operational in Middlesex.”

The Broughton Moor site, between Cockermouth and Maryport, has attracted interest from a number of private companies and the sports village plans are one of many submitted to West Lakes Renaissance, the company managing the site’s regeneration.