16 February 2010

New plans for Caldew Riverside

Partners in Carlisle Renaissance are working on revised plans to regenerate one of the most important development sites in Carlisle. The previous scheme to provide a new campus of the University of Cumbria had to be shelved when it emerged that the University is facing serious financial difficulties and was unable to commit to new development.

Bryan Gray, Chairman of Carlisle Renaissance, said: "The site was originally identified as suitable for a mix of city centre uses and we were working on a masterplan to bring this forward before we were approached by the University. Of course we are extremely disappointed not to be able to proceed with them. A successful University is critical to the economy of Cumbria, but the city has a number of development needs and we will be looking at these over the coming weeks."

Councillor Mike Mitchelson, Leader of Carlisle City Council, confirmed the continued commitment to regenerate the site: "This is a once in a generation  opportunity to bring forward a major development site in a strategic location in the heart of the city centre and close to the Historic Quarter. We will continue in our efforts to bring the site into single ownership and assess the viability of a range of uses. Remediation is an essential first step to allow development of this important site."

The cost of remediating the site is estimated at c£4m and would take over a year to complete. The Northwest Development Agency (NWDA) has already agreed to fund this work subject to identification of appropriate development opportunities.

Steve Broomhead, Chief Executive of the NWDA said: "Caldew Riverside is a strategic investment site for the Agency and as a partner in Carlisle Renaissance we recognise the need to invest to bring it forward for development. We will work with our partners to look at the options and subject to a positive outcome we will fund the clean-up costs." 

The site covers approximately 8 acres and is thought to be capable of accommodating up to 400,000 sq ft of new development.

Ian McNichol, Director of Carlisle Renaissance outlined the next steps: "The site is identified in the Local Plan as a regeneration area suitable for mixed-use development. We have already undertaken a considerable amount of market analysis on potential end uses, including office and leisure uses and there are some specific requirements we are already aware of that might well be suited to the site's location."