The next stage of a £27 million project to redevelop Carlisle Railway Station has been approved.
The square outside the station, known as Court Square, will be pedestrianised, with seats and landscaping and will feature the Lawson Fountain, relocated from Stony Holme Golf Course.
The plans were approved by Cumberland Council’s planning committee yesterday, Wednesday February 19.
A report to councillors said: “The current layout and appearance of Court Square is dominated by vehicles, making the space problematic for pedestrians.
“The gateway function of this space is currently constrained by the quantity of car parking, resulting in pedestrians being pushed to the edges of the space, creating an unpleasant arrival experience unbefitting the importance of the area.
“The improvement of Court Square would form part of a wider public realm regeneration strategy that would see the delivery of a number of transformative projects within Carlisle.
“In particular, George Square would see the development of a new station car park which would divert most vehicle traffic from the north of the station toward the south, creating a new Southern Gateway.
“This would allow the shift from a vehicular focus within Court Square to create a more enhanced arrival space; one that is pedestrian focused and more befitting of the character of the setting.
“As Court Square is the forecourt to Carlisle Railway Station, a large area within the site boundary is within the ownership of Network Rail.”
Emergency service and maintenance vehicles would still have access to Court Square.
A planning officer, told members that the area was surrounded by listed buildings and the design would have a significantly positive impact on the station and the listed buildings.
Councillor John Mallinson (Houghton and Irthington, Conservative) asked about the taxi rank and he was told a drop-off point would be placed where the current taxi rank was in Court Square Brow.
Councillor Roger Dobson (Corby and Hayton, Lib Dems) observed that the listed buildings also contained a clutter of modern shop fronts and he wondered if the frontages could be more sympathetic to the buildings once the development was complete.
When the matter was put to the vote it was unanimously approved by the committee members.
The scheme’s main objectives are to:
- Improve the passenger arrival experience;
- Prioritise pedestrian and cycle access;
- Improve junction and signalling designs within the public highway;
- Create a gateway space befitting of the historic context;
- Create new facilities, such as cycle parking and seating areas;
- Improve the forecourt to the station, hotel, cafe and public house.
The report said: “The vast majority of vehicles would be removed from the southern portion of Court Square, creating an attractive high-quality space prioritised for pedestrians and cyclists.
“Vehicle access into Court Square would be strictly controlled by a mix of seating and bollards and would be restricted to emergency service and maintenance activities only.
“The area would be paved in natural stone to reflect the significance of the space and architectural heritage of the buildings that surround it.
“Feature paving bands in local Lazonby red sandstone from the station entrance would lead people directly to a new crossing point located on Court Brow and towards the city centre.
“The space would incorporate benches and tree planting in order to provide passengers with a pleasant outdoor waiting area.”
The Carlisle Station Gateway project includes:
- Northern Gateway: Pedestrianisation of Court Square and improved pedestrian connections to and from the station.
- Station interior: Enhancements to the Court Square access, improved facilities for customers and an upgraded and welcoming entrance from George Square.
- Southern Gateway: George Square (station entrance from James Street) – Public car parking being relocated to George Square to reduce the vehicular traffic at Court Square together with drop-off and bus replacement services.
- Streets and junctions: A focus on improving access at Water Street and Court Square Brow to improve access to the station, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists.
Work is already underway on the scheme, which saw the demolition of the former Carlisle swimming pool and former Staples unit on James Street.
