Moves to create a new multi-storey car park in the heart of Carlisle have taken a further step forward, with business leaders heralding it as the answer to drivers' frustrations.

Plans to demolish the Lonsdale Building and Lower Gaol Yard building at the rear of The Courts have been recommended for approval by planners.

Both have been left empty by Cumbria County Council following its move to the new cutting-edge, glass-fronted headquarters on Botchergate.

The historic site could now provide extra relief for motorists seeking extra choice when it comes to parking places within a stone's throw of shops, restaurants, evening entertainment and the railway station.

Viv Dodd, secretary of the Carlisle City Centre Business Group, said that new parking facilities in the heart of the city would be welcomed by traders.

"We would be in favour of it," he said. "It's [parking] a problem at the minute and that's an ideal location at the back of the Courts.


Viv Dodd "It's on the edge of the city, which means that traffic won't have to come through."

Stewart Young, leader of Cumbria's Labour group and former leader of the county council, said that the authority's intention was to build a new multi-storey car park on the site.

He did offer reassurances that it would not exceed the height of existing buildings.

There are no plans to demolish the Kraemer Building, which is also part of the Courts.

Planning papers state that the Lower Gaol Yard Building was built in the early 1970s, while the multi-storey Lonsdale Building was built between 1979 and 1980.

They are separate from the famous Citadel buildings that stand on the entrance to English Street.

Documents state: "The Citadel building will be safeguarded for future generations, with options being explored to ensure an appropriate and viable use to enhance its future sustainability.

"The Kraemer Building is considered to be in good condition with a range of alternative uses and is to be retained.

"Proposals for the future use of the Courts site are still at a conceptual stage and require further information about the site constraints, which can only be fully obtained once the Lower Gaol Yard buildings and Lonsdale Building are demolished.

"To ensure that the site does not fall into disuse or neglect, interim uses of the land are currently being explored by the applicant and will be the subject of a future planning application."

There had been plans to carry out a full redevelopment of the Citadel buildings.

But Cumbria County Council was forced to rethink its plans after a £21.7m funding bid was snubbed by the Government.

The council was also hoping to open up the historic area around the railway station but plans had to be reassessed after it was allocated just £1m.

The Carlisle Station Gateway and Citadel Project was one among a string of projects which Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership hoped to fund had its bid for £165m from a Government growth deal been successful.

The county as a whole got only £12.7 million.