Plans to turn part of a Kendal shopping centre into a college campus took a major step forward.
South Lakeland District Council’s planning committee has unanimously backed the proposal
Kendal College wants to transform 58,000sq metres of the Westmorland Shopping Centre into a teaching space for around 400 students.
The college has been forced to use portacabins to facilitate continued growth and a new site would help relieve this pressure.
At a meeting of the planning committee at Kendal Town Hall, councillors suggested a campus would help to rejuvenate the centre of Kendal.
“I think this is an excellent idea,” said Cllr Janette Jenkinson. “Having a learning facility will actually bring younger people into the town.
“It’s bringing new life back into the town centre.”
Cllr Brian Cooper said: “Years ago, it was heaving round there. But times have changed with Amazon and all those things. I think it’s a great idea.”
The application was brought before the district council’s planning committee because the proposed use, combined with the site’s location, meant approval would be a departure from planning policy.
However, it was felt the perceived educational and economic – increased footfall in the town centre – benefits of the scheme, as well the shopping centre’s accessibility via public transport and its high vacancy rate, warranted the scheme’s approval.
South Lakeland District Council planning officer Nick Howard told the meeting: “It is a departure from policy but we believe there are mitigating circumstances in this case which override that departure.”
Cllr Philip Dixon was another member of the planning committee to express his support for the project.
He said: “I look back to a golden age where you couldn’t move on a Saturday for people in the town centre.
“I think local plans have got to adapt to the way shopping has developed now.”
Around 80 per cent of students at the new campus would be between 16 and 19 years of age. The facility would also accommodate 30 members of staff.
Cllr David Webster expressed concerns about safeguarding at the new site and was told there would be security in place.
The shopping centre is currently owned by property-investment company Praxis on a long leasehold from the district council.
