Multi-million pound plans to revamp Carlisle retail park

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A multi-million pound revamp of Carlisle’s St Nicholas Gate retail park could get the go-ahead next week, creating up to 200 jobs.

The development in London Road, on the site of the old Cowans Sheldon works, is a shadow of its former self.

Several units including the former MFI and Focus DIY are standing empty.

The facelift involves partial demolition of existing units and would vastly increase the amount of floorspace.

The scheme has outline planning permission and should clear the final hurdle on Friday as long as city councillors like the design.

A planning officers’ report says the original proposals were too “contemporary” and did not blend in with nearby red-brick buildings.

Property consultant Savills, which is agent for the development, has tweaked the plans to head off criticisms and set out the case for the revamp.

Its report says: “The retail park is tired, dated and in need of investment.

“The vacancy rate is high and it is unappealing to both shoppers and occupiers.

“It is failing both as a shopping facility which local residents wish to use and as a viable asset to its owners.”

The plans involve demolition of Halfords unit and the old National Tyres’ unit, and partial demolition of the former MFI building.

A new unit would be built where Halfords is, plus one on the opposite side of the entrance to Burger King and two others – one between Netto and Carpetright and the other close to Woodrouffe Terrace.

The total number of units would rise from seven to 10, providing an extra 32,000sq ft of retail floorspace.

The car park would still cater for 320 cars. But the rear entrance from St Nicholas Bridge would be for delivery vehicles only.

Car drivers would no longer be able to use the retail park as a shortcut to London Road.

Only 38 people work at St Nicholas Retail Park at Burger King, Netto, Carpetright and Brantano Footwear. Almost two-thirds of the floorspace is empty.

It is owned by Possfund Custodian Trustees Limited (the Royal Mail Pension Plan).

If the plans are approved, construction work is expected to take around a year.