It is hoped work on the 1,050 acre site will start next year

Broughton Moor, near Workington, is to be renamed Derwent Forest and if funding is secured will eventually be home to a new ecological visitor centre.

The Royal Naval Armaments Depot is one of the largest brownfield site in north-west of England and is expected to be acquired by Allerdale Council for development early next year.

Officials hope to create a regional forest park, offering a variety of walking, cycling and riding routes for the public, along with facilities to reflect the history of the site.

One proposal put forward by a consortium of local businesspeople is to include a plan to build an "elemental" theme park, called Utropia, on the site.

'Strong image'

It is hoped the theme park - which would feature white-knuckle rides based on the elemental themes of air, earth, fire and water - would create hundreds of new jobs.

Allerdale Council's head of environment, Ian Payne, said there was a strong marketing image behind the new name.

He said: "Derwent Forest, and the tag-line 'The other side of the Lakes' has the right feel.

"It obviously makes a link with the River Derwent, which actually puts it on the map, the Forest links to the Forest Park and the Lake District reference completes the picture."