By Julian Whittle

Published at 13:33, Friday, 29 February 2008

A DECISION on whether Carlisle Civic Centre and other buildings in Rickergate should be listed is expected by the end of March.

Protection: Other buildings, including the fire station, former police station, magistrates court and homes in Warwick Street, could be saved

Listing would protect them from demolition and so sabotage Carlisle Renaissance plans to redevelop the area.

English Heritage has been assessing the architectural merit of the Civic Centre, an 11-storey 1960s office block.

Its experts have also examined the fire station, former police station, magistrates court, Adriano’s restaurant and homes in Warwick Street.

These are 1940s buildings, in the main designed by the then city engineer Percy Dalton.

Culture Secretary Andy Burnham has the final say.

A spokeswoman for English Heritage said: “Our advice has been submitted to the Department for Culture Media and Sport, which makes the final decision to list or otherwise.

“We would hope to receive the Department’s decision by the end of March.”

Olwyn Luckley, a Liberal Democrat city councillor for the area, asked English Heritage to consider the 1940s buildings for listing in 2006.

When its inspectors visited, they decided to look at the Civic Centre as well.

The concrete structure was voted one of the 20 most-hated buildings in Britain by viewers of Channel 4’s Demolition.

However, English Heritage recently listed Plymouth Civic Centre, which is similar in style and of the same era.

Carlisle City Council wants to clear the area to make way for a new square with shops, offices and a hotel.

But even if the buildings are not listed, its plans could be affected by the outcome of the Carlisle local plan inquiry, also due next month.

Save Our Streets campaigners, who oppose the scheme, received a sympathetic hearing from inquiry chairman Patrick Whitehead when they put their case last summer.

His report may recommend that Corporation Road and Peter Street are removed from a proposed “regeneration area” so lifting any threat that homes might be bulldozed.

Save Our Streets is stepping up pressure on the City Council ahead of the publication of the inquiry findings.Four members have tabled questions critical of Renaissance under the council’s public participation procedure.The questions will be put to council leader Mike Mitchelson when the council meets on Tuesday.

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk