Contracts awarded for £28m Carlisle Station Gateway

Eric Wright Construction and Story Contracting are due to begin work imminently on their respective sides of the project, with Eric Wright charged with the southern end and Story tackling the northern.

Cumberland Council is overseeing the delivery of the Carlisle Station Gateway project, alongside Network Rail and Avanti West Coast. The £28m Carlisle Station Gateway seeks to enhance the public realm around the railway station, improve pedestrian crossings, create two new public squares, and build a car park.

Both Eric Wright and Story are familiar with the project, having already secured the design and build contracts and completed enabling works. Cumberland Council voted on Tuesday to grant the construction contract to the two contractors.

Story is focussed on Court Square, which will receive more landscaping, improved crossings, and partial pedestrianisation as part of the proposals. Story is commencing work on the northern part of Court Square this month, with the southern end to commence next spring. The Court Square portion of the gateway scheme has a budget of £5.4m.

Eric Wright is charged with George Square, which sits to the south of the railway station. This project involved the demolition of the Pools building and the former Staples store to enable the delivery of a car park with rail replacement and pick up and drop off facilities – as well as a public plaza. George Square’s budget is £18.3m.

Work on the gateway is set to complete by the end of January 2027.