18 November 2008
Progress on Carlisle Renaisance
The Carlisle Renaissance Board met yesterday and agreed its
first Action Plan for Carlisle Renaissance.
Bryan Gray, Chairman of the Board commented “This is an exciting
and challenging time for Carlisle. As we navigate a period of
economic uncertainty it is now more important than ever that we
focus on priorities, transformational actions that can deliver
lasting benefits for residents and businesses alike.”
The Action Plan sets out the Board’s priorities and what needs
to be done to get them delivered, including key activities for the
year ahead. The plan will now go forward to be considered for
approval by Carlisle City Council, Cumbria County Council and the
Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).
The Programme Director, Ian McNichol updated the Board on
progress on its priorities “At the moment our main focus is on the
new University of Cumbria facilities at Caldew Riverside, planned
to open in 2012. This may seem like a long way off but this will be
one of the largest and possibly the most complex development
projects in the City Centre since the Lanes Shopping Centre was
built.”
Work to improve Castle Street will begin in January next year
and this is a sign of things to come in Historic Quarter of
Carlisle. “This area has a truly unique mixture of cultural and
heritage assets. When you put all the pieces together in the right
way not only does it put Carlisle on the map as one the UK’s
leading heritage cities but it can also be the focus for investing
in its culture and creativity.”
At its last meeting the Board agreed the need for businesses in
the City Centre to play a leading role in deciding what needed to
be done to improve its competitiveness. A business led group is now
being set up by the City Council to make recommendations on future
City Centre Management. This will help to determine how public
investment should to be targeted for example into marketing,
maintenance and the public realm.
“Our role is to provide leadership and support to make sure that
our priorities get delivered on the ground. We rely upon the
commitment and support of our partners in order to do this and I am
pleased at how quickly they are responding. This is often not easy
for large public sector organisations but up and down the country
there are many, many examples of what can be achieved” commented
Bryan Gray.
Outside the City Centre the focus is on the M6 motorway corridor
and how it can be developed over the long-term to deliver new sites
for businesses, particularly those in sectors with recognised
growth potential. “This is all about thinking ahead and having a
clear plan. We need masterplans for all three motorway junctions
and one that presents to business and investors the benefits of the
entire corridor. And of course we need to link these opportunities
to areas of greatest need in Carlisle, both urban and rural”, he
said.
The Board also agreed how it wishes to see resources targeted to
support it priorities and recognised the significant financial
commitment that is being made by the partners to support its
activities.
Summing up Bryan Gray commented “This is a new chapter for
Carlisle Renaissance. The fortunes of Carlisle will not transform
overnight but I believe we are beginning to bring this about by
concentrating on its unique strengths and grasping genuine once in
a generation opportunities.”
Notes to Editors:
Carlisle Renaissance is a partnership between Carlisle
City Council, Cumbria County Council and the NWDA. Further
background information can be found at www.carlisle.gov.uk. A dedicated
website at www.carlislerenaissance.co.uk
will be launched in January 2009.
A private sector led Board is responsible for overseeing
the delivery of Carlisle Renaissance supported by a dedicated
delivery team.
The Board’s priorities for Carlisle Renaissance are:
-
Developing a new City Centre Riverside Campus for the
University of Cumbria
Maximising the potential of the Historic Quarter and its key
assets
Delivering major new employment sites on the M6
corridor
Strengthening the mix of retail, office and ancillary uses
in the City Centre
The Chairman, Bryan Gray, is available for telephone
interviews on 18th November 2008 between 12pm and 4pm
For further information contact Helen Askew, Carlisle
Renaissance, on 01228 817110 or via email helan.askew@carlislerenaissance.co.uk