Carlisle’s Highways Revamp to Start as English Street Picks Up
A major revamp of Carlisle’s highways is set to commence next week, as part of the city’s Southern Gateway project, with enhancements around English Street aimed at improving pedestrian crossings and access to the city centre. The eight-week work programme, announced by Cumberland Council, will see the pedestrian crossing area between the Cumberland Building Society, Santander, NatWest, and the former B&M upgraded with a high-quality, permanent finish.
According to Place North West, the works come at a time when retail is picking up in English Street, with Tesco Express opening in 4,000 sq ft at the former House of Fraser store. Caffé Nero, which previously had a concession in-store, has agreed a new lease and fully refitted, taking a standalone 2,000 sq ft. Furthermore, a deal is now in solicitors’ hands that should see a further 5,000 sq ft accounted for to a national retailer, making most of the ground floor accounted for.
The agent responsible for bringing several national brands to English Street, Carigiet Cowen, previously brought the expansive Loungers group to the city in the neighbouring ex-Top Shop unit. Ben Blain of Carigiet Cowen told Place North West: "English Street as a whole is a good news story, this has gone from a shut down department store to a stretch with some strong national brands. There’s a lot of positivity."
The highway upgrades will build on the recent improvements to English Street and link with last year’s Devonshire Street works. The existing temporary tarmac will be replaced, helping to create a more attractive and accessible city centre. This phase includes the construction of a raised table at the junction of Victoria Viaduct and English Street. The works will involve the installation of ducts, upgraded traffic signals, new kerbing and paving, and improved pedestrian crossings. During this period, English Street and Devonshire Street will be closed to vehicles.
The Southern Gateway project forms part of Cumberland Council’s £100m regeneration programme for Carlisle, which corrals funding from sources such as the Future High Streets Fund, Town Deal and Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal in a programme of improving infrastructure and access to support economic growth. As reported by Place North West, plans for public realm enhancements around Carlisle’s mainline railway station, including the creation of a new pedestrian area called George Square, were approved earlier this month.
As the city centre continues to benefit from significant investment, residents and visitors can expect improved amenities and accessibility. The enhancements to English Street and the surrounding areas are part of a larger effort to revitalise Carlisle’s city centre. According to Cumberland Council, the Southern Gateway project is a key component of this effort, with a focus on enhancing the city’s infrastructure and supporting economic growth. With the highway upgrades set to commence next week, Place North West will continue to provide updates on the progress of this significant project.
The works are expected to have a significant impact on the local community, with many businesses and residents set to benefit from the improved infrastructure. As Ben Blain of Carigiet Cowen noted, the positivity surrounding English Street is palpable, with several national brands now present in the area. The highway upgrades, as reported by Place North West, are just one aspect of the ongoing efforts to regenerate Carlisle’s city centre.
The Southern Gateway project’s focus on improving infrastructure and access will undoubtedly have a lasting impact on the city’s economy and community. As the project continues to progress, Place North West will provide ongoing coverage of the developments and updates from Cumberland Council. With the city’s highways revamp set to commence, residents and visitors can look forward to a more attractive and accessible city centre.
The regeneration programme is being driven by Cumberland Council, who are seeking to improve the city’s infrastructure. The Council have confirmed that they are investing in the area and that they are making progress with the Southern Gateway project, which will see a number of upgrades to highways in the area, as reported by Place North West.
