Exclusive by Matthew Legg Business editor

Published at 19:36, Thursday, 01 May 2008

THE first two properties have been bought in the proposed Renaissance regeneration of Carlisle’s city centre.

Sold: Adriano's restaurant in Carlisle

The city council has acquired Adriano’s restaurant for £775,000 and 8 Warwick Street for £125,000 as the plan to redevelop Rickergate begins in earnest.

The Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) has funded both purchases.

City council leader Mike Mitchelson described the deals as a “significant step” in the Renaissance project.

Adriano’s owner Franco Bertoletti has signed a three-year lease to rent the building and will continue trading as a tenant of the council.

The occupier of 8 Warwick Street also becomes a city council tenant.

Both deals were completed on March 31.

Mr Mitchelson said both parties had approached the council to offer their properties.

“We are not going round knocking on doors asking if people want to sell their houses, we are asking people to approach us,” he said.

“It is not unusual for people to become tenants of the council, we are one of the biggest landowners in the city.

“And it does not mean that because we own these properties that they will be knocked down.

“This is simply the start of the process of assembling land in the areas of redevelopment outlined in the Carlisle Renaissance plan.

“It’s a positive sign that regeneration in Rickergate will happen. It’s a statement of intent.”

If the land on which the properties stand is not ultimately required, the council will keep them as assets or sell them on the open market, he added.

Details of how many other Rickergate properties will need to be acquired will not be known until the blueprint for the area is finalised. That is expected when a private developer has been selected and planning applications tabled in 2010.

The council already has an agreement in place with the owners of public sector buildings in Rickergate, such as the magistrates’ court, to take control of them if required.

The future of the Rickergate proposal was called into question last month when a report by a government inspector criticised plans for a plaza with shops, offices and a hotel. The report expressed grave doubts about proposals to bulldoze the Civic Centre, police and fire stations, Adriano’s, the magistrates’ court and homes in Warwick Street.

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