WITH plans in motion to resuscitate Carlisle's high street as the city competes against ever-changing shopping trends, Carlisle's MP says the city is headed in the right direction. 

Plans for the ‘Reimagining the Greenmarket/Market Square’ project, for example, is one of the methods being implemented to increase the city's high-street offering whilst the city continues to champion the growth of online shopping retailers such as DPD and Amazon coming to the area - as well as promoting full occupancy rates for retail parks such as Gateway 44. 

Carlisle's MP John Stevenson said the full occupancy rate at Junction 44 is a 'positive sign' as it demonstrates interest in the city. 

"You have to accept there's a balance between those businesses that want to be on the traditional high street and those that want to be at a different site and any developing city wants both," he said.

"In terms of the high street itself, I think Carlisle is better placed than many, although I accept there are a number of empty shops.

"Our city centre has high street funding which will hopefully improve the condition of our city centre, making it as attractive as possible, which I believe it is an attractive city." 

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Moves towards a redevelopment of the Citadel buildings to create a new University of Cumbria campus with £50million in funding from the Borderland Inclusive Growth Deal is a sign the city is adapting, the MP said. 

"Over the 12 years, Carlisle has changed quite significantly but in a positive way. 

"We've seen further potential coming down with the university expanding, investments into the garden village, the redevelopment of the railway station and the continued growth of house building that has gone on in various parts of the city which demonstrates builders want to build, so the demand is there.

"It's not just about the city centre, it's about where the city is heading in the future - the vision for the future.

"When I got elected back in 2010, one of the first questions I answered was that I wanted to see Carlisle grow. To a certain extent I still retain that ambition because I think being slightly larger helps services such as hospitals.

"But, I think we've gone beyond that now, I think Carlisle needs to see itself as the region's capital. 

"Borderlands was a key initiative that opened up that thinking that actually we are a region and at the centre is Carlisle, both in Cumbria and across the Scottish border.

"I think that's a real positive for the city," he said. 

The Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal was formally signed by council leaders in Northern England and Scotland in March 2021, bringing £450 million into the Border Regions.

Previously the MP asked the Under Secretary of State for Scotland if the Borderlands region could benefit from a similar landmark economic investment in the future.

In order to encourage further high street growth, Carlisle City Council is offering a Business Growth Grant - a grant fund offering up to £8,000 for businesses occupying a vacant premises within the high streets boundaries.

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