Whitbread, the parent company of the Premier Inn hotel chain, has agreed terms to acquire the freehold of the former Central Plaza site in Carlisle from Cumberland Council.
The vacant site has been bought for an undisclosed sum and will be redeveloped into a 104-bedroom Premier Inn hotel.
The site has been effectively ownerless for several years and has been subject to escheat by The Crown Estate.
In 2020, Carlisle City Council stepped in to demolish the hotel on the site after it was deemed structurally unsafe.
Cumberland Council has since been in discussions with the Crown’s representatives to acquire the land for its redevelopment.
The council worked with CBRE to find a potential buyer for the site.
Subject to receiving planning permission from Cumberland Council, Whitbread will lead the construction and take on long-term ownership and operation of the new hotel.
It intends to submit a planning application this summer and is targeting an opening date before the end of 2028.
Mark Fryer, leader of Carlisle City Council, said: “It is another important step forward for the regeneration for Carlisle city centre. Work is already under way on city centre transformation schemes and the Citadels Railway Station redevelopment, with plans also in place for the University of Cumbria site too. All will bring transformational change to the city.”
Jill Anderson, acquisition manager at Whitbread, said: “This development underscores our commitment to expanding Premier Inn across the north of England, supporting local economies and creating lasting employment opportunities.”
Image © Whitbread
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