Cumbria Area Developments - Areas and Subjects NOT being covered elsewhere on Skyscraper City

[Aylett 67]

Originally Posted by Talisker

Is this the building that's being demolished? Certainly a positive step for that area. Perhaps this would be the best place for the bus interchange.

Yes it was formerly CMS's depot and the building adjoining it was the National garage. Both buildings are terrible eyesores and need to go as there is absolutely no alternative use for them.

[Newcastle Historian]

People living in Rural Areas of Northern England
need an active role in Planning
by David Black, The Journal, August 3rd 2012


PEOPLE living in rural areas should be given an active and leading role in forward planning, if their communities are to thrive and the countryside is to grow, according to a North East academic. Professor Mark Shucksmith says, villagers should be “helped to help themselves”, and to get involved in development plans if rural areas are to prosper and avoid stagnating.

Prof Shucksmith, director of the Newcastle University Institute for Social Renewal, has jointly edited a book – Rural Transformations and Rural Policies in the US and UK – which examines policies and attitudes towards living in the countryside on both sides of the Atlantic. This week he is presenting its final chapter to the World Rural Sociology Congress in Portugal’s capital, Lisbon.

Yesterday he said: “The UK Government is encouraging localism, but it remains to be seen whether it will offer the necessary support to enable all rural communities to respond to this opportunity.”

Two years ago research by the Commission for Rural Communities – Prof Shucksmith was a board member – found the future of the countryside was in jeopardy because a lack of jobs and homes were forcing young people out. Suggested solutions included flexible planning to create more affordable rural housing, new ways to meet rural employment and training needs and a push to improve mobile phone coverage and broadband services in isolated parts.


Read More - http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-e...#ixzz22U6RKq19

[Aylett 67]

Also in the pipeline are plans to redevelop the Quay in Workington by building houses between The Steampacket and the RPA. This was once a thriving community of 800 people but was largely cleared in the seventies.

[TOON FAN]

Tour of Britain stage starts in Carlisle

Stage 4 of the 2012 Tour of Britain started in Carlisle City Centre, with the likes of Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish cycling through Cumbria to the stage finish, won by Cavendish, in Blackpool.

[Aylett 67]

http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/go...errerPath=home

The former Fusion nightclub, at one time the best known nightclub in Cumbria and a massive draw for clubbers, is to become flats.

[Talisker]

What's your opinion on the Workington town centre redevelopment? I've been a couple of times and it's all very identikit with the same shops as you'll find everywhere else. It's an improvement over the area it replaced but not enough to change Worky's fortunes.

[Aylett 67]

Originally Posted by Talisker

What's your opinion on the Workington town centre redevelopment? I've been a couple of times and it's all very identikit with the same shops as you'll find everywhere else. It's an improvement over the area it replaced but not enough to change Worky's fortunes.

It's far better than the ugly sixties shopping centre, but Workington is an uninspiring place at the best of times. Also the town's once thriving nightlife seems to have taken a turn for the worse with the closure of Fusion, a massive draw for clubbers across Cumbria.

[Talisker]

No mention of SSC of one of the biggest developments in the NE and Cumbria, which is the search for a new waste depository for Sellafield. My understanding is that they want to start generating electricty again at Sellafield but have been told that a new waste depository must be found first. Two sites have been identified; one up the coast near Silloth, the other under Red Pike in the Ennerdale valley. In both cases the waste would be transported via a tunnel leading directly from Sellafield. In the case of Red Pike, this would mean excavation of large ammounts of granite, which could be sold. In the case of Silloth, the excavations would be of no value and would amount to the equivalent of 5 great pyramids. The site at Red Pike would need to be geologically investigated with bore-holes and dynamite. Tens of thousands of these measurements would need to be made, which would take many years, during which time the area would be closed off to the public. No decisions have been made. The locals are in uproar while politicians are supportive due to potential for investment and jobs.

[Newcastle Historian]

Originally Posted by Talisker

No mention of SSC of one of the biggest developments in the NE and Cumbria, which is the search for a new waste depository for Sellafield. My understanding is that they want to start generating electricty again at Sellafield but have been told that a new waste depository must be found first. Two sites have been identified; one up the coast near Silloth, the other under Red Pike in the Ennerdale valley. In both cases the waste would be transported via a tunnel leading directly from Sellafield. In the case of Red Pike, this would mean excavation of large ammounts of granite, which could be sold. In the case of Silloth, the excavations would be of no value and would amount to the equivalent of 5 great pyramids. The site at Red Pike would need to be geologically investigated with bore-holes and dynamite. Tens of thousands of these measurements would need to be made, which would take many years, during which time the area would be closed off to the public. No decisions have been made. The locals are in uproar while politicians are supportive due to potential for investment and jobs.

If there are some details around about this, and it looks like it is to become a 'Project', it could then be set up in it's own Project Thread . . .

[Talisker]

I'll try to find out more. Here's some other related news:

"The Albion Square development in the Cumbrian town of Whitehaven is a key project in the Britain’s Energy Coast (BEC) programme.

http://www.theconstructionindex.co.u...an-sindall.jpg

The development will comprise two four-storey office buildings, totalling 100,000 sq ft, on two adjacent sites on Swingpump Lane in the centre of the town. Once complete, the offices will house approximately 1,000 Sellafield Ltd office workers who will move from the Sellafield site. RMJM acted as concept and design architects and Hurd Rolland Partnership as project architects, with project management by Drivers Jonas Deloitte. Albion Square forms part of the wider West Cumbria Economic Blueprint, published by BEC earlier this year. The Blueprint outlines how BEC will help West Cumbria capitalise on a potential £90bn worth of investment in the nuclear industry and exploit opportunities in renewable technologies"

Read more at:
http://www.theconstructionindex.co.u...-in-whitehaven

[Newcastle Historian]

Ancient Map aids plans for return of native woodlands
The Journal, December 26th 2012


Philip Howard in front of Naworth Castle, with a 17th century plan (below) depicting a formal woodland to be recreated


A MAP dating from the 1600s will be used to create new native woodlands near Hadrian’s Wall. The Forestry Commission has pledged £94,000 from the English Woodland Grant Scheme for an ambitious project which will boost wildlife and improve river water quality at Naworth Castle, near Brampton in Cumbria.

Eight new woods covering 50 acres will be planted, expanding existing mature woodlands. Forestry chiefs have allocated the top rate of grant for the venture as it will help improve water quality in Carling Gill and the River Irthing, which both flow through the estate. Using the 400-year-old map from the family archives, there are plans to recreate a formal woodland known as Lord William’s Wood and the Long Walk

New planting on the estate will include oak, rowan and cherry and will steer clear of historic features. They include four scheduled ancient monuments, such as the ruins of a bastle, which is a fortified medieval farmhouse dating to the time of the Reivers. The estate also includes part of Hadrian’s Wall.


Read More (Two Pages) - http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-e...#ixzz2GBB7IsBX

[Aylett 67]

Originally Posted by Talisker

I'll try to find out more. Here's some other related news:

"The Albion Square development in the Cumbrian town of Whitehaven is a key project in the Britain’s Energy Coast (BEC) programme.

http://www.theconstructionindex.co.u...an-sindall.jpg

The development will comprise two four-storey office buildings, totalling 100,000 sq ft, on two adjacent sites on Swingpump Lane in the centre of the town. Once complete, the offices will house approximately 1,000 Sellafield Ltd office workers who will move from the Sellafield site. RMJM acted as concept and design architects and Hurd Rolland Partnership as project architects, with project management by Drivers Jonas Deloitte. Albion Square forms part of the wider West Cumbria Economic Blueprint, published by BEC earlier this year. The Blueprint outlines how BEC will help West Cumbria capitalise on a potential £90bn worth of investment in the nuclear industry and exploit opportunities in renewable technologies"

Read more at:
http://www.theconstructionindex.co.u...-in-whitehaven

Currently 150 staff are based at the RPA in Workington, where I work, but these will move to Albion Square in 2014. The main reasoning for moving admin staff off site is to reduce congestion on the A595.

[Aylett 67]

Whitehaven seems to have acquired a rather controversial shop recently, SUBconscious, a sex shop aimed at women. I was walking past and saw a display of boots, whips and lingerie. It was more like Amsterdam than Whitehaven.

[Talisker]

Regarding the Dusty Miller pub;



From the Whitehaven News: "AN ONLINE campaign has started to save one of Whitehaven’s best known pubs from demolition to make way for a car park for disabled drivers. Negotiations are taking place between the developers of the town’s £18million Albion Square office development and the owners of the Dusty Miller. NDA Properties Ltd, part of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, is in the process of buying the Swingpump Lane building as part of its plans for Albion Square."

http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk/news...errerPath=home

[Aylett 67]

Originally Posted by Talisker

Regarding the Dusty Miller pub;



From the Whitehaven News: "AN ONLINE campaign has started to save one of Whitehaven’s best known pubs from demolition to make way for a car park for disabled drivers. Negotiations are taking place between the developers of the town’s £18million Albion Square office development and the owners of the Dusty Miller. NDA Properties Ltd, part of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, is in the process of buying the Swingpump Lane building as part of its plans for Albion Square."

http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk/news...errerPath=home

Apparently it's going to be demolished soon. As a pub, it was a dump actually, notorious for drug busts in the past and being an all day drinking den for unemployables. It was certainly not a place for outsiders to visit.

[Aylett 67]

Been down to what will be Albion Square and Hanrattys and Castle Car Sales have been cleared, with the Dusty Miller to follow later this spring.
In another development it looks like what remains of Greenbank is being refurbished as these houses are now 75 years old and although strong, need some remedial work on the fronts.
Also the former Hensingham Infants School site has been cleared and further up Cleator Moor Rd in Whitehaven G and M Supplies( formerly a printworks) will be moved to make way for a new Spar and service station.

[Aylett 67]

Another major development planned for the next few years is to redevelop the Whitehaven School site, which was formerly the site of Whitehaven Grammar School, and move the Catholic secondary school, St Benedicts, from Red Lonning to the new site which will host both secondary schools. Apparently the sixties Whitehaven School buildings are in a poor condition, leading to parts of the site being demolished, and I know when I was there in the eighties most of the windows needed to be replaced and the top floor of one building was closed off as it was unsafe.

[Talisker]

Has anything been done about the former Sekers site opposite the fire station? The last time I was in the area the old buildings were being demolished, but I haven't heard any definite plans for what will replace it.

[Aylett 67]

Originally Posted by Talisker

Has anything been done about the former Sekers site opposite the fire station? The last time I was in the area the old buildings were being demolished, but I haven't heard any definite plans for what will replace it.

It's still empty, but the shell of the offices was finally demolished last year. I think the recession is holding things up, same as the wreck of the Park Nightclub and the DSS building is blighting the harbour.

[Tyr]

There's no cumbria forum to ask this on

So, I'm wondering can anyone think of an iconic symbol for Carlisle/Cumbria?
Tyne and Wear has the angel or the bridges, Tees has the transporter bridge or Stephenson's rocket, what about Carlisle?