Education leaders have welcomed news that funding for a £4 million business exchange in Carlisle has been given the go-ahead.
The University of Cumbria is behind plans for the Carlisle Business Exchange, which will include 800sq m of hyper fast digitally enabled business interaction and accommodation space, as part of its new campus at the Citadels.
It is hoped the hub will encourage and maximise innovation and collaboration with the university’s staff and students for external businesses located in or moving to the CBE. These will include start-up businesses, through to scale-up businesses and flexible space for larger business.
It will also provide a knowledge exchange hub, a central location where university research and knowledge exchange staff can be co-located with at least part of the business community with whom they are wishing to engage.
The high quality flexible and co-working space will contribute to city centre vitality and footfall as well as provide a location for the incubation of businesses including those started by staff and students at the university, education chiefs said.
The CBE is one of six projects set to receive Town Deal funding, alongside Start with the Park, St Cuthbert’s Garden Village; Southern Gateway; Project Tullie; Lighting Up Carlisle; and a Digital and Community Learning Hub.
University of Cumbria’s vice chancellor, Professor Julie Mennell said: “This is a really exciting time for our city and region, with each of the Town Deal projects delivering significant benefit in their own right.
“The development of a city centre university campus has the potential to transform the character and status of Carlisle and the wider Borderlands area. However, it is the strategic and collaborative approach taken by all involved which will ensure we deliver tremendous and long-lasting impact for our city, businesses and communities.”
The planning application for the University of Cumbria’s flagship Carlisle Citadels campus project was submitted to Carlisle City Council in April this year.
Designed by DAY Architectural Ltd., the new campus plans include the retention of the two Grade I listed Citadel rotundas on the proposed site along with other historic and heritage features, including the Woolworths and Burton buildings. Accessible, inclusive, and inspirational, the design also seeks to open the site and facilities, in a managed way, to the local community.
The Carlisle Citadels campus project has been developed by the University of Cumbria, Cumbria County Council, Carlisle City Council, and Cumbria LEP as a key partner, with £50 million of funding for the project is being provided by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) through the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal with the additional £4million from the Carlisle Town Deal Fund and the university expected to help meet the £77.5 million total cost.
