Approval granted for 104-bedroom hotel development in Carlisle despite design objections

A new 104-bedroom hotel in Carlisle city centre has been given the green light despite concerns over potential harm to the city’s historic West Walls.

Members of Cumberland Council’s planning committee met at Allerdale House on Wednesday to consider the proposal for a new Premier Inn on the site of the former Central Plaza Hotel on Victoria Viaduct.

Whitbread submitted the application to redevelop the site and it was proposed that the hotel would incorporate a restaurant and bar as well as associated back-of-house facilities.

It was placed before the committee because it was in the public interest and the application is for a large hotel development on a prominent site that is currently owned by the council.

It was recommended that the application was granted subject to planning conditions and the report states: "The site covers an area of approximately 0.15 hectares and comprises the footprint of the former Grade II listed Central Plaza Hotel. It is located on the western side of Victoria Viaduct, on the edge of Carlisle city centre.

"The site contains a section of the Grade II listed medieval city walls which act as a retaining wall to West Walls and which comprises a mix of traditional stone, bricks and mortar."

Planning officer Stephen Daniel told members that councillor Robert Betton (Botcherby, Independent) had submitted a letter which raised concerns over the design and asked that the matter be deferred and he added: "This is not an objection. Just a recommendation about the heritage frontage."

Mr Daniel said the matter was recommended for approval and it was felt that the development would bring 'significant economic benefits' to the area because of the extra visitors. He added: "The proposed design is considered to be acceptable."

Quentin Alder, from the Carlisle and District Civic Trust, said the organisation strongly objected to the development and instead of the proposed concrete panels it could have used natural stone like the Premier Inn in Keswick.

He said that Carlisle MP Julie Minns had requested that the applicant should rethink the design, as it was not of sufficient quality, and he added: "This thing will not be premier but it is going to be second best."

Jill Anderson, Whitbread’s acquisitions manager, told members they had been working with the council since 2023 and there had been extensive discussions about the project. She added: "The economic benefits of the hotel will be substantial."

She said it would create 25 full time equivalent jobs and it would bring a long vacant site back into use.

Councillor Andrew Semple (Cockermouth South, Labour) said: "We do need something here and Premier Inn have shown in Keswick what they can do."

Concerns had been raised over the potential impact a new hotel would have on the hospitality sector but councillor Roger Dobson (Corby and Hayton, Lib Dems) said he was not aware of other Premier Inns closing and he felt it was in a 'brilliant location' with close proximity to the city centre and the rail station.

He proposed that they accept the officer’s recommendation to approve planning permission and he was seconded by councillor John Mallinson (Houghton and Irthington, Conservative). When it was put to the vote it was agreed with just one member against the proposed hotel.

A separate application for listed building consent for work to the medieval wall associated with the construction of the new hotel where it was proposed that a membrane would be applied to the wall and then concrete cast in front of it to ensure its stability.

Mr Daniel told members that it was considered by a structural engineer to be the least intrusive design but members were concerned over the potential harm to the wall from trapped moisture.

However, cllr Dobson moved that they agree the officer’s recommendation for approval, he was seconded by cllr Mallinson and, when it was put to the vote, it was unanimously approved.

According to the report the proposed development comprises the erection of a five-storey, 104-bedroom Premier Inn hotel. It adds: "The bedrooms would be distributed across the lower ground, first, second, and third floors, supported by ancillary areas including linen stores, plant rooms and staff accommodation."

The development represents a £12m investment in the city and, speaking after the meeting, Ms Anderson said: "Redeveloping constrained locations such as West Walls is not easy and we have overcome many hurdles to design a viable hotel development.

"Cumberland Council has very much been on the journey with us, and I would like to thank them for their commitment to our plans as well as the many people who have helped us to secure this planning permission.

"It’s fair to say we’re all thrilled with the decision from the members of Cumberland Council’s planning committee to resolve to grant our application, and I look forward to engaging with the community as we progress the delivery of our new hotel.”"

Whitbread announced plans to redevelop the West Walls site in May 2025 and worked with Cumberland Council’s planning officers on the proposed design.

The five-storey hotel, which will feature Premier Inn’s latest format standard and enhanced Premier Plus bedrooms, needed to take account of numerous design constraints including topography changes, height restrictions and the listed city wall which forms a boundary along part of the site.

Carlisle City Council, the local authority at the time, was responsible for demolishing and clearing the historic Central Plaza Hotel that once stood on the site in 2020 after it became structurally unsafe.