A MAJOR project to redevelop Carlisle’s historic 16th century buildings into a higher education campus could take a step forward on Friday, if councillors approve the work.

Carlisle City Council’s development panel is set to meet at the Civic Centre on August 5 at 10am.

And amongst the planning applications set for a decision is the redevelopment of the Grade I Listed Citadel buildings into a new University of Cumbria campus.

The project is partly funded by £50million from Carlisle’s share of the Borderlands Growth Deal.

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Carlisle Railway Station, adjacent to the Citadels, is also set to be revitalised with a £20million share of the Borderlands funding.

Councillors will decide on the proposal on Friday to change the use of the Citadel buildings on English Street and 185 Victoria Viaduct to higher education use.

A café will be created on the ground floor of the former Woolworth buildings and 106-114 English Street and The Kramer Building will be demolished to construct a new University of Cumbria entrance.

An open public space will be included in the centre of the campus.

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John Stevenson, member of Parliament for Carlisle, has welcomed the step forward for the project.

He said: “I am delighted to see the plans for the Citadels coming forward this week.

“These plans are truly transformative for Carlisle bringing back into good use, the iconic listed Citadel buildings and making the area once more the heart of an exciting, vibrant and bustling city.”

The case officer’s report on the proposal reads: “The overarching aim of the proposal is to create a new campus development for the University of Cumbria that will allow them to consolidate their operations into a visible, accessible and high-quality campus within the city centre of Carlisle.”

A separate planning application for internal works has been submitted and both are recommended for approval by the city council’s case officers.

The structures have a lot of history having been built in the 16th century, rebuilt in the 1800s and used by the justice system, with civil courts held in the East Tower and criminal courts in the west.

Construction of the new Crown and County Courts Complex on Earl Street saw the Citadels cease to function as a judicial building.

Cumbria County Council later used the buildings as office space, until 2016 when it moved to a single building on Botchergate.

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