Consultation continues on new Design Guide

Local community groups have their say

(Date of issue: Friday, 25 July 2008)

Local residents have until next Thursday (31 July) to give their views on plans to raise the quality of Carlisle’s city centre areas.

The draft Carlisle City Council planning guide sets out a blueprint for how key parts of the city could be developed. The ‘Urban Design Guide and Public Realm Framework’ is intended as a handbook for developers, architects and designers and is out for public consultation until Thursday, 31 July.

As part of the public consultation, views are being sought from a range of specialist groups including those representing young people, are being asked to give their views on plans to raise the quality of Carlisle’s city centre areas.

Young people have also been asked their views and they, along with other consultees, and have had their opinions caught on camera. Eden Film has been commissioned to capture the consultation on film and the finalised DVD will form part of the consultation feedback.

Display material, setting out the plans, is also on show in The Lanes shopping centre. The exhibition was used as part of a recent public consultation held in the Tourist Information Centre’s Assembly Rooms, during mid June.

The exhibition sets out why the Urban Design Guide and Public Framework document has been compiled and what suggestions have been forward by consultant’s Gilliespies, to improve city centre public spaces and buildings. They will be on show in a vacant shop, next to BHS.

The technical planning document includes guidance and principles on how buildings should be designed throughout the city centre as well as setting out how the city’s public spaces can be improved including paving materials, seating and lighting.

Four "city squares" – Court Square, Market Square, Rickergate Square and a new square at Caldew Riverside (Viaduct Estate), where the University of Cumbria is proposing its new headquarters, are all suggested. Plans are also proposed for the Caldewgate and Shaddongate area, in addition to the Botchergate South area.

Copies of the document have been available, throughout the six-week consultation period at the Civic Centre’s Customer Contact Centre, the city centre Library (based in The Lanes) and an online version is also available on the City Council’s website www.carlisle.gov.uk.

Leader of Carlisle City Council, Cllr Mike Mitchelson, said:

"Carlisle has a unique and important array of buildings and open spaces in its city centre. This new draft planning guideline document will help us have stronger planning regulations so we can make sure that we have well designed, high quality buildings and public spaces. This will help define how the city will look and develop in the future."

"This is another important step forward for Carlisle Renaissance and we urge local residents to give us their views on the design principles, including making the city centre more accessible and pedestrian friendly."

Comments are sought on the document by Thursday, 31 July. Written responses can be sent to: Local Plans and Conservation Manager, Carlisle City Council, Civic Centre, Carlisle, CA3 8QG, handed in at the public exhibition or emailed to lpc@carlisle.gov.uk

Feedback on the responses will be made in early autumn.