Plans for a major new University of Cumbria campus in Carlisle city centre have taken another step forward following a decision by Cumberland Council's Executive (Monday 28 September) and Full Council (Wednesday 30 September).
Members agreed to the transfer of council-owned land at English Street to the University of Cumbria and approved arrangements for £5.215 million of Town Deal funding to support the delivery of a new Business Exchange Centre as part of the wider development.
Work continues on the proposals, which form part of the wider Citadels redevelopment project - one of the largest regeneration schemes in the Borderlands region. The delivery could see the creation of a flagship university campus, creating new teaching facilities, business innovation space and opportunities for local people and businesses
The project aims to increase access to higher education, support economic growth, attract investment and bring new life to a prominent gateway site in Carlisle city centre. The development is also expected to increase footfall, support local businesses and strengthen the city's role as a centre for skills, innovation and culture.
The project includes a new Business Exchange Centre that will provide flexible workspace, support start-ups and growing businesses, and encourage collaboration between industry and academia.
Also in this week's newsletter...
Leisure centres celebrate major refurbishments
Residents using Whitehaven Sports Centre and Cockermouth Leisure Centre are reaping the benefits of newly upgraded fitness facilities thanks to a major investment to create an improved experience for members.
Both leisure facilities, run by award-winning leisure operator Everyone Active on behalf of Cumberland Council, received exciting makeovers as part of the £400,000 refurbishment project.
Cockermouth Leisure Centre has also undergone a complete transformation to create a state-of-the-art gym environment.
The refurbishments follow the makeover of Cleator Moor Activity Centre which was completed in August this year and marked a significant milestone for the Cleator Moor Town Deal programme.
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Millom Leisure Centre - Pool Progress Milestone
A major milestone has been reached at the new Millom Leisure Centre on Salthouse Road, with the swimming pool now fully tiled and starting to look like the finished facility.
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Pool walls, floor and access steps now tiled
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Pool lane markings taking shape
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Surrounding pool hall works continuing
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Internal fit-out progressing across the wider building
It's fantastic to see one of the centre's key features coming together. The project continues to move forward at pace, and we'll be sharing more updates as work progresses. An opening date for the new leisure centre will be announced in due course, so keep an eye on the Millom Town Deal channels for the latest news.
This exciting project, part of Millom Town Deal - Activating Community Health, is being delivered thanks to support from our funding partners; Copeland Community Fund, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Nuclear Waste Services, South Copeland GDF Community Partnership, CGP Books, Millom School and Millom Town Council.
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A new Chief Executive has been appointed to lead Cumberland Council.
Jo Atkinson, currently Cumberland Council's Director of Corporate and Transformation Services and Deputy Chief Executive, will officially take up the role of Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service from 1 January 2027.
Jo's appointment follows an extensive recruitment process set in place following the announcement that Andrew Seekings, the council’s current Chief Executive, was retiring at the end of December 2026.
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They were literally dancing in the streets in Cockermouth this weekend as Taste Cumbria food festival rocked the town once more.
Now in its 16th year, this celebration of food and drink saw thousands of people enjoying the flavours on offer. With 70 producers on stalls in Main Street and Market Place, two music stages including one at Jennings Brewery, and loads more entertainment in the town’s pubs, this was a packed event for all the family.
Sadly, high winds cut the celebrations short on Sunday, but businesses and traders still reported a brilliantly busy weekend.
The Taste Cumbria festivals are organised by Cumberland Council and the sponsors and supporters for this event were: Cockermouth Town Council, The Coffee Kitchen Bakery, Jennings Brewery, Milburns Solicitors, Rock With and Cockermouth & District Chamber of Trade.
Taste Cumbria Christmas will take place in Cockermouth on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December. Find out more at www.tastecumbria.co.uk
Image courtesy of Tom Kay Photographic
Veterans living at Parkside Residential Care Home in Maryport will benefit from enhanced support and recognition after the home achieved Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF) status, becoming the first Cumberland Council home to receive the accreditation.
The Veteran Friendly Framework (VFF) helps care homes better understand and meet the practical, emotional and social needs of veterans and the wider Armed Forces community. To achieve the accreditation, homes must identify veterans in their care, reduce social isolation and help residents access specialist support and services.
Parkside’s application was praised by assessors for its high standard, recognising the team’s commitment to person-centred care and strong links with the Armed Forces community. The accreditation reflects the home’s dedication to delivering outstanding care for veterans and will remain in place until its next review in 2028.
Kathryn Glass, VFF Project Lead at Royal Star & Garter, said: “We’re delighted that Parkside Care Home in Maryport has achieved VFF status, reflecting their ongoing dedication to providing high-quality, person-centred care for veteran residents and their partners.”
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National Cadets Week is a great time to find out more about the opportunities available through local cadet organisations.
Being a cadet helps young people build confidence, make friends, learn new skills and take part in exciting activities such as outdoor adventure, sports, first aid, leadership training and community projects. You do not need to be interested in a military career to join.
Find out more on our video.
Cadet organisations also rely on adult volunteers who help young people learn, grow and achieve their potential. Whether you can offer practical skills, mentoring or support behind the scenes, volunteering is a rewarding way to give back to your community.
On 10 October, local cadet units will be opening their doors as part of National Cadets Week. Visit an open day to meet cadets and volunteers, see activities in action and find out how to get involved, find out more: Army Cadets or Sea Cadets.
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Office and workshop space in The Carlton, Maryport’s newest destination, is now available for rent.
The landmark building on Senhouse Street has been transformed as part of Cumberland Council’s £12m regeneration of the town, with funding from the Council, central government and Sellafield Ltd.
A range of office accommodation has been opened up, perfect for small businesses or for bigger companies who need a West Cumbrian base.
The Carlton is a former bank and cinema which has been reinvented as an entertainment and events venue with a performance auditorium and café bar on the ground floor and business accommodation above. Maryport Horizons Community Interest Company is operating the building on the Council’s behalf. It will begin to open to the public this month with performances planned for later in the year.
There are seven office spaces in total, ranging from 11sqm to 26sqm in size. Tenants will share a light, bright communal kitchen and co-working space, and the accommodation is available on a rolling monthly contract. The rental price includes service charges and starts at £344 per month.
The building is fully wheelchair accessible with lifts to all floors and sections.
Anyone interested in renting an office space at The Carlton can call 07949 568895 or email hello@mhcic.co.uk to arrange a viewing.
Image courtesy of Tom Kay Photographic
Good progress is being made on the new Cleator Moor Community Hub, with Story Contracting now on site as principal contractor.
The site is now fully fenced off and secured, with temporary CCTV in place prior to new, permanent cameras being installed. To allow construction to take place safely, the bus stop to the front of Cleator Moor Town Square has been temporarily relocated, with westbound 22 and 30 services now using a temporary stop on Cragg Road.
Inside the buildings, all asbestos has been removed and the strip-out is nearly complete. The work has also uncovered some wonderful original features, including a parquet floor and doorway arch in the library, as well as fireplaces and ceiling roses in the former credit union building, all of which will be restored and retained where possible.
The project is one of four schemes that make up the Cleator Moor Town Deal programme, which secured £22.5 million from the Government's Towns Fund. Managed by Cumberland Council, Revitalised Town aims to bring underused buildings back into use, improve the look and feel of the town centre and create new opportunities for local people.
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Want to know more about the work of our highways team? Do you know how many kilometres of roads, footways and cycleways we maintain? Want to know our plans for mending potholes and road defects?
Then check out our Highways Transparency Report for more information.
Traffic signal refurbishment works begin at Hardwicke Circus
A refurbishment of the traffic signals at Hardwicke Circus in Carlisle is underway as Cumberland Council invests to improve the reliability and longevity of one of the city's busiest junctions.
The improvement scheme, which began on 28 September and is due to be completed by 16 October 2026, will see existing traffic signal infrastructure upgraded as part of the council's Traffic Signals Capital Programme.
Keswick resurfacing works
The main carriageway resurfacing works on Keswick's Main Street and Victoria Street are progressing well, with the principal surfacing works completed on Thursday 1 October. This section of the scheme has now been reopened to traffic.
Due to the forecast weather conditions, no resurfacing works will take place on the evening of Friday 2 October. The programme has been adjusted to accommodate this, helping to ensure high-quality surfacing is delivered safely and effectively.
As planned, works will move to Penrith Road on Monday 5 October. Once resurfacing on Penrith Road has been completed, crews will return to undertake the remaining section of work at Station Road and Station Street, including the access to Bell Close and Otley Road car parks.
Loweswater set for carriageway resurfacing improvements
We will be carrying out carriageway resurfacing works on the C2030 at Loweswater as part of its ongoing programme of highway improvements across the county.
The scheme is scheduled to take place from Monday 5 October to Friday 16 October 2026, subject to weather and site conditions. Working hours will be between 7am and 5pm each day.
We are inviting residents, passengers, businesses and community groups to take part in the next phase of the Cumbria Bus Reform Pilot Study. The Pilot Study is funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) and is being delivered in partnership with Cumberland Council, Westmorland & Furness Council, Jacobs and Oxera.
This stage will include a public questionnaire and six community drop-in events across Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness. It will gather views on people’s experiences of local bus services, their priorities for the future and their thoughts on potential new ways of planning, funding and operating services.
There is still time for eligible young people in Carlisle to apply for a grant from the Carlisle Educational Charity.
The charity supports some young people under 25 with education-related costs, including further or higher education, professional qualifications, postgraduate study, or travel that is part of a course.
Applications must be returned by 30 October 2026.
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We're inviting landlords, letting agents, and housing professionals to attend two important events in October 2026 to learn about upcoming changes affecting the private rented sector.
The sessions will focus on proposed changes to Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs), including anticipated changes to how properties are assessed and rated from 2027, as well as the latest developments surrounding the Renters' Rights reforms and what landlords can expect in the next phase of implementation.
The events will provide attendees with the opportunity to hear from industry experts, ask questions, and understand how future legislative and regulatory changes could affect their properties and businesses.
- Thursday 8 October 2026 - Civic Centre, Carlisle, 10.30am to 1pm
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Friday 9 October 2026 - Allerdale House, Workington, 10.30am to 1pm
We'll soon be carrying out some resurfacing works at our car parks in Brampton.
To ensure the safety of our workforce and the general public, the car parks will be closed while works take place. Vehicle access to the car parks will not be available between 8am and 4pm.
The works are scheduled to begin on Monday 5 October and will be undertaken in three phases:
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Brampton Central - October 5 and October 6
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Union Lane Car Park 1 – October 7 and October 8
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Union Lane Car Park 2 – October 9 and October 12
Thank you for your patience while we carry out these works.
The Beacon Museum is inviting visitors of all ages to enjoy a varied programme of events this October, with everything from local history talks and magical adventures to animal encounters, spooky crafts and hands-on STEM activities.
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Cumbria Fostering has launched its latest recruitment campaign to encourage more people across the county to consider fostering and help provide safe, stable and loving homes for local children.
The campaign features the inspiring story of Workington foster carers Stacy and Michael, who say fostering has transformed their lives while making a lasting difference to the children they care for. Stacy said: "Watching children grow, gain confidence and overcome challenges is what makes fostering so special."
Cumbria Fostering is looking for carers from all walks of life and offers comprehensive training, ongoing professional support, support groups, wellbeing services and networks such as the Mockingbird programme, ensuring carers never feel alone on their fostering journey.
Anyone interested in finding out more can attend one of our upcoming events:
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Penrith Library: 13 October, 12pm to 1pm
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Workington Library: 14 October, 1pm to 2pm
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The Lanes Shopping Centre, Carlisle: 17 October, 1pm to 3pm
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Online information session: 21 October, 7pm
For more information or to book a place on our online event visit cumbriafostering.org.uk. A simple conversation could be the first step towards changing a child's life.
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