BOOK NOW | Cumbria Development Update
Place is bringing together developers, economists, and senior political figures from across the county – including Trudy Harrison, MP for Copeland, and Cllr Jonathan Brook, the Leader of Westmorland and Furness Council – for a dynamic look at Cumbria’s future.
At Cumbria Development Update, you’ll hear from the movers and shakers of Cumbria as they share their insights in sessions delving into the county’s £11bn GVA economy, its push for housing, and its thriving tourism sector.
The half-day conference begins at 8am on 20 June at Castle Green Hotel in Kendal, with content continuing until noon when we break for a post-event networking lunch. The event is sponsored by Genesis Homes, Whitbread, and Hydrock.
This jam-packed morning will include a series of engaging panel sessions with audience questions. At Place, we know the importance of bringing the property market together so you can expect plenty of networking opportunities – including a pre-programme breakfast, session breaks, and a post-programme lunch.
What you’ll take away from the conference
- A clear understanding of what the priorities are for Cumbrian local authorities
- Intel on the state of the property market in Cumbria
- Insight into Cumbria’s economic future
- An overview of the residential scene in the county
- Details on where the opportunities are
- New contacts for your business
Confirmed speakers
Trudy Harrison is the MP for Copeland. Harrison was elected as the MP for Copeland in 2017. Since then, she has held a variety of roles in government, including parliamentary under secretary to the Ministry of Defence, the Department for Transport, the Department for Education, and the Department for Environment and Rural Affairs.
Cllr Jonathan Brook is the Leader of Westmorland & Furness Council. Westmorland & Furness Council incorporates the area previously controlled by Barrow-in-Furness, Eden, and South Lakeland local authorities. Brook is also a board member of Cumbria Tourism, North West Employers, Borderlands Board, and the Brilliant Barrow Board. Expect Brook to set out his council’s priorities and its plans for the future.
Darren Crossley is the director of place, sustainable growth, and transport at Cumberland Council. Crossley is at the forefront of activity in Cumberland Council, helping lead its £60m+ Town Deal projects, £30m transformation of Carlisle, ad £10m Workington Hall gateway project. Crossley will not only outline Cumberland Council’s focus for the years to come but also discuss its ambitions to be a leading green economy.
Angela Jones is the director of thriving places at Westmorland & Furness Council. Jones’ team is responsible for leading many of the exciting plans in the local authority, including its £200m+ transformation of Barrow. Jones will elaborate more on the regeneration projects in the works at Westmorland and Furness, as well as discuss how the public and private sectors can work together to make a better future for the county.
Jill Anderson is a property acquisitions manager at Whitbread. Anderson is responsible for growing Premier Inn in Cumbria and across the North of England, Scotland & Northern Ireland. Advocating a collaborative approach to site acquisition and development, she will bring an expert perspective on the current market for hotels in Cumbria as well as the long-term benefits of branded operators like Premier Inn to the region.
Keith Ashcroft is the chair of the Lake District Foundation. The Lake District Foundation is dedicated to supporting the delivery of conservation, heritage, and tourism projects that are examples of sustainable development. Ashcroft’s perspective on the importance of nature and conversation will be one part of our discussion on the visitor economy.
Nicky Gordon is the managing director of Genesis Homes. The Penrith-based housebuilder has ambitions to build 200 homes a year. Recently, Genesis secured planning permission for 190 homes across two sites in Carlisle and Seaton.
Mark Griffiths is a hydrogeology technical associate at Hydrock. A chartered scientist with a strong technical background, Griffiths has spent 12 years working on a range of geothermal, geoenvironmental, and hydrogeology projects. Griffiths will utilise his expertise to discuss Cumbria’s future when it comes to the green economy.
Gill Haigh is the managing director of Cumbria Tourism. Cumbria Tourism is the official voice of an industry that is worth more than £4bn to the economy and represents approximately 4,500 member businesses. Haigh will discuss the current state of the tourism industry in Cumbria, how it can improve, and where the built environment fits into that picture.
Professor Julie Mennell is the vice chancellor at the University of Cumbria. University of Cumbria educates more than 14,000 students a year. The university has ambitious plans for growth as well, with work starting on a Barrow Island campus earlier this year – and plans already approved for a £77m campus on the site of the historic Carlisle Citadels. Mennell will speak about where the education sector sits in Cumbria’s economic future.
Lauren Newby is a director at EKOSGEN. Newby has more than 20 years of economic development and regeneration experience. She specialises in crafting economic strategies, labour market research, strategic land use planning, and public policy research. No stranger to Cumbria, she helped craft the Barrow Town Investment Plan and successful Levelling Up Fund bid.
Deanne Shallcross is the chief executive of Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners. As CEO of Whitehaven Harbour Commissioners, a not-for-profit organisation, Shallcross oversees a dedicated, small team focused on managing and maintaining the town’s 400-year-old harbour and estate, The Rum Story visitor attraction and shop, several car parks, multiple tenants, and the building of a new coastal activities centre.
Martha Shields is the head of development for South Lakes Housing. The Kendal-based housing association manages more than 3,000 homes with an ambition to deliver an additional 400 before the end of 2025. At the same time, the group hopes to invest at least £33m into its existing housing stock. Shields will bring the affordable housing perspective to our discussion on the residential scene in Cumbria.
Marie Smallwood is the head of advice for the North at Historic England. Smallwood leads a team that provides advice on proposals for change to, and designation of, historic places. Her passion is working collaboratively to develop high-quality and contextual interventions in the historic environment, which shapes the next phase of a place’s story. Smallwood will be able to discuss the relationship between tourism, heritage, and property.
David Wright is a land director at Gleeson Homes. Gleeson Homes has a target of 3,000 housing completions a year across the country. As land director, Wright leads two teams for Gleeson – one in Penrith and the other in St Helens, working on stakeholder engagement with local government, buying land, and securing planning permission. He is also a councillor at Egremont Town Council.
Book your ticket today by using the form below.
If you cannot see the form, please contact events@placenorthwest.co.uk.
