Cumberland unveils £27m Carlisle Station Gateway plans

Working alongside Avanti West Coast and Network Rail, the local authority has outlined its ambitions to pedestrianise Court Square by the grade two star-listed Carlisle Citadel railway station.

Plans lodged last week by planner and architect BDP showcase how Cumberland Council and its partners would improve pedestrian crossings at the square, enabling easy access to the city centre, Court Brow, and Botchergate.

The project would also bring back the historic Lawson Fountain from Stoneyholme Golf Course to its original place at Court Square.

Introducing more landscaping and seating will also help activate the public realm of the space, improving the experience for those arriving at the Cumbrian city.

As part of the scheme, vehicle entry at this northern entrance to the railway station would be limited to emergency services, waste collection, deliveries, and maintenance workers.

If planning permission is won, main contractor Story Contracting would be able to start construction next year, with an eye to completing the scheme in 2026 or 2027.

You can learn more about the project by searching application reference number 24/0650 on Cumberland Council’s planning portal. In addition to BDP, the project team includes WSP and BB Heritage Studio.

The work at Court Square is part of the wider £27m Carlisle Station Gateway project, which is funded through the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.

Another phase of the project, due to have its planning application submitted later this month, looks at the southern side of the train station, known as George Square. This initiative would introduce a public car park and square.