Plans for a new hotel in Carlisle have been approved.
Members of Cumberland Council’s planning committee met yesterday, Wednesday February 25, to discuss the application by Whitbread plc to create the Premier Inn on the site of the former Central Plaza Hotel on Victoria Viaduct.
Whitbread plc agreed terms to acquire the site of the Central Plaza from the council in June last year.
The five-storey hotel would have 104 bedrooms in total and feature a restaurant and bar.
It would also include staff accommodation. The development would have solar panels and air-source pumps to create low-energy demand.
A planning officer told members that councillor Robert Betton (Botcherby, Independent) had submitted a letter which raised concerns over the design and asked that the matter be deferred. They added: “This is not an objection. Just a recommendation about the heritage frontage.”
They added that the design was considered to be appropriate.
Quentin Alder, of Carlisle and District Civic Trust, said the organisation strongly objected to the development and instead of the proposed concrete panels it could have used natural stone like the Premier Inn in Keswick.
He said that Carlisle MP Julie Minns had requested that the applicant should rethink the design, as it was not of sufficient quality, and he added: “This thing will not be premier but it is going to be second best.”
Jill Anderson, Whitbread’s acquisitions manager, told members they had been working with the council since 2023 and there had been extensive discussions about the project. She added: “The economic benefits of the hotel will be substantial.”
Councillor Andrew Semple (Cockermouth South, Labour) said: “We do need something here and Premier Inn have shown in Keswick what they can do.”
Concerns had been raised over the potential impact a new hotel would have on the hospitality sector but councillor Roger Dobson (Corby and Hayton, Lib Dems) said he was not aware of other Premier Inns closing and he felt it was in a brilliant location with close proximity to the city centre and the rail station.
He proposed that they accept the officer’s recommendation to approve planning permission and he was seconded by councillor John Mallinson (Houghton and Irthington, Conservative). When it was put to the vote it was agreed with just one member against the proposed hotelC
A separate application for listed building consent for work to the medieval wall associated with the construction of the new hotel where it was proposed that a membrane would be applied to the wall and then concrete cast in front of it to ensure its stability.
Officers told members that it was considered by a structural engineer to be the least intrusive design but members were concerned over the potential harm to the wall from trapped moisture.
However, Cllr Dobson moved that they agree the officer’s recommendation for approval, seconded by Cllr Mallinson and, when it was put to the vote, it was unanimously approved.
Ms Anderson said: “Redeveloping constrained locations such as West Walls is not easy and we have overcome many hurdles to design a viable hotel development.
“Cumberland Council has very much been on the journey with us, and I would like to thank them for their commitment to our plans as well as the many people who have helped us to secure this planning permission.
“It’s fair to say we’re all thrilled with the decision from the members of Cumberland Council’s planning committee to resolve to grant our application, and I look forward to engaging with the community as we progress the delivery of our new hotel.”
The Central Plaza Hotel was designed by local architect Daniel Birkett and built in 1881.
It initially opened as the Grand Central Hotel, it was later known as the Central Hotel and subsequently the Central Plaza Hotel.
The building was given Grade II-listed status in 1994. The hotel closed in 2003, and planning permission for conversion to residential and leisure use was granted in 2004, but never followed through.
The site had effectively been ownerless for several years and in July 2011, the interior of the building suffered substantial fire damage, followed by ongoing vandalism.
Its ownership reverted to the Crown Estate that year. The then-Carlisle City Council demolished and cleared the hotel during 2020 after it became structurally unsafe.
The western boundary of the site forms part of a Medieval wall, which links Carlisle Castle to the cathedral.
If it gets the go-ahead, the hotel building would not occupy the entire site footprint.
There would be a gap between its end elevation and The Green Room Theatre. A section of the listed wall would remain exposed and would be carefully
restored as part of the development.
This retained section would be visible from Backhouse Walk.
Carlisle and District Civic Trust continues to object to the proposed new hotel and one letter of objection has been sent to the council about the hotel’s appearance not being in keeping with the surrounding buildings.
In a report to members, officers said the operational phase of the proposed development was estimated to have the potential of creating around 25 jobs, generating £1.1m GVA in the Cumbrian economy and around £520,000 in wages, attract 45,600 visitors to Carlisle and generate around £65,000 in business rates a year.
