Council executive to discuss new uni campus plans for Carlisle Citadel
Landmark being transferred to be discussed by councillors
Plans for the transfer of an iconic Carlisle landmark for it to become a new university campus could take a step forward at two special meetings in the city next week.
Members of Cumberland Council’s executive committee will meet on Monday (September 28) and the full council meet on Wednesday (September 30) with both events set to take place at The Civic Centre.
They will both consider the Grant Funding Arrangements and Disposal of land at English Street for the delivery of a university campus report.
According to the report the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal committed £58 million towards the redevelopment of the Citadels site facilitating delivery of what is described as ‘a transformational project for Carlisle and the wider Borderlands region’.
It states: “The site will become a new campus for the University of Cumbria, supporting the future growth of the city and the university, stimulating economic activity in the city centre and increasing skills and business productivity in the region.
According to the report the proposal is to provide £5.215 million Town Deal Funding, agree a leasehold transfer of the site and an option of a future freehold transfer of the site and crown court building for ‘nil consideration’ to enable development of this project and creation of the new city centre university campus.
Members of the executive are asked to consider the citadels project proposals and the site assembly required to enable their delivery alongside the proposals contained within the other citadels report on this agenda.
In addition, they are expected to agree to recommend to full council a disposal of the Site by way of 125-year lease to the University of Cumbria for nil consideration, which is described as a ‘transfer at undervalue’, to enable the development of a new university campus.
Members are also expected to agree to recommend to full council the granting the university an option to have the freehold of the site transferred to them at nil consideration in the event they elect to require the crown court.
The report states: “The redevelopment of the citadels and the adjoining property and land is the most significant strategic project within the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.
“The aim of the project is to redevelop this extensive council owned site to create a new city centre campus for the University of Cumbria that will provide new headquarters, teaching space and a business exchange centre.
“This will support the future growth of the city and the university, stimulating economic activity in the city centre and increasing skills and business productivity in the region.”
According to the report it is supported by funding from the Carlisle Town Deal programme and the project includes the delivery of an 800 square metre purpose-built, digitally enabled business exchange centre.
It adds: “This will provide high-quality flexible accommodation, co-working and business interaction space for start-ups, growing companies and larger businesses.
“The business exchange centre is intended to capture and maximize the opportunities for businesses interactions with the university.”
According to the report planning permission and listed building consent for the project was granted in August 2022 for the demolition of 106 to 114 English Street and the construction of a new gateway entrance building.
The development will involve the full refurbishment and fit out of the remainder of the buildings collectively known as The Woolworths Building, the full refurbishment and fit out of the listed Citadels Hospital Wing building, a new build teaching building in the southwest corner of the site, creation of a central outdoor space within the site and moderate landscaping of the crown court and garden areas.
According to the report, in February 2025 a further planning consent was granted for a revision of the phasing plan to the scheme with a further application was approved in May 2026 to safeguard deliverability of the first phase of the scheme.
According to the report the cost of the first phase of the project is £85.193 million.
It states: “The current funding package includes £58 million from the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, £5.215 million from the Carlisle Town Fund, £3.50 million from the university’s own capital, Cumberland Council’s contribution of the English Street land at nil consideration and proposed loan of £12.0 million from the council.”