Projects that will benefit from £19.7m Government funding, as part of Carlisle’s Town Deal plan, have been unveiled
Carlisle submitted the investment plan to Government in October 2020 and received a heads of terms offer for £19.7m of investment in March 2020.
This offer has now been agreed by the town deal board, and will fund the following Carlisle projects:
- Start with the Park, St Cuthbert’s Garden Village: Providing new and improved walking and cycling routes connecting the key settlements of the Garden Village with Carlisle City Centre.
- Southern Gateway: An integrated programme of investments in active and sustainable travel and public realm to better connect key developments in the Southern Gateway area of Carlisle, including the Railway Station, Citadels, Devonshire Street and the former Central Plaza site, and to connect St Cuthbert’s Garden Village with the City Centre.
- Project Tullie: Welcome & entrance to Tullie House Museum: part of a wider programme of investment at Tullie House Museum, this project will better connect the Museum to the surrounding streetscape, increasing its visibility by providing a clear and contemporary point of arrival for visitors.
- Lighting Up Carlisle: Investment of capital funding in digital lighting equipment to support an expanded and transformed events programme.
- Digital and Community Learning Hub: Refurbishment of the City Centre Library to create an accessible digital skills and community learning hub, and installation of digital equipment and training materials in 13 community venues.
- Citadels Business Infrastructure: 888Msq of hyper-fast digitally enabled business interaction and accommodation space, linked to the University of Cumbria’s flagship campus development.
- Carlisle Market Hall: Investment to improve the infrastructure and internal structure in the Market Hall to improve the experience for shoppers and visitors and exploring options to create a food court and events space.
‘A blueprint to drive Carlisle forward’
Councillor John Mallinson, leader of Carlisle City Council, said: “The £19.7m funding sits within a wider package of over £250m of investment in and around Carlisle.
“This is great news for the city and will help us grow and support our businesses and communities coming out of the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Town Investment Plan is a blueprint for the next ten years and will drive forward Carlisle in the future.”
Emma Porter of Story Contracting and chair of Carlisle’s Town Deal board, added: “I have enjoyed chairing the Town Deal Board and am looking forward to getting on with the next stage of developing some of these exciting projects.
“Carlisle has a lot to offer and we hope these projects will drive forward positive change.”