Peill and Co

A planning application has recently been submitted to Carlisle City Council for the conversion and re-development of the former BT Exchange building on Cecil Street to provide a new 63-bedroomed hotel plus offices on the ground and first floors and a small retail kiosk. The former BT Exchange building, which has been vacant since April 2005 was previously the subject of a planning application for mixed use comprising part retail/leisure on the ground floor and 29 apartments on the upper floors which was refused planning permission in December 2005. However, the new development expects to bring over 60 new jobs to the Carlisle and see a significant city centre building brought back into use.

The development is being proposed by F&C Asset Management plc, the London based fund manager, and a leading European investment group whose shares are quoted on the London Stock Exchange with €154.6 billion under management.

The planning application proposes a 63-bedroomed hotel over second, third and top floors of the building with a ground floor reception area and café on the ground floor. Simon Adams of the letting agents & development consultants to the deal, Peill & Company, commented ‘The proposal for the new hotel in the centre of Carlisle fills a long-standing requirement for the hotel operator Travelodge who do not presently have representation in Carlisle, other than 2 motorway lodges north and south of the city. In addition to the hotel occupying the majority of the building, there will be offices on the ground and first floors and we are currently talking to a number of companies to occupy the remaining 10,000 sq ft of space within the building’.

Travelodge has approximately 300 hotels throughout the UK and the new hotel will accommodate both business occupiers and the increasing number of tourists that regularly visit the border city. The Cecil Street development fits in with Travelodge’s policy of expanding rooms they already have within the UK, Ireland and Spain and of regenerating existing buildings. The chain has a target of 32,000 rooms by 2010 and Travelodge already has 30 hotel openings planned in 2007.

The development represents a multi million investment by F&C and will complement the existing hotel rooms in the city centre and also offer good quality office accommodation for businesses who need to be in the centre of Carlisle, rather than being on one of the business parks at Rosehill, Parkhouse or Kingmoor. The central location of the building close to car parks, the Citadel Station, retail and tourist attractions will ensure that this empty building is brought back into commercial use creating further employment and complements the proposals by Carlisle City Council with Carlisle Renaissance.