Cumbria Development Update 2025

CLLR JONATHAN BROOK, WESTMORLAND & FURNESS COUNCIL | Jonathan was first elected as a councillor in 2006 & has had various council roles since then, including as leader of South Lakeland District Council, a Member of the Lake District National Park Authority, Kendal Town Council & is a former Mayor of Kendal. Jonathan is currently a board member of Team Barrow the Brilliant Barrow Board, Kendal Futures, Cumbria Tourism, North West Employers, the Borderlands Board & the District Councils Network.

DARREN CROSSLEY, CUMBERLAND COUNCIL | Darren has substantial experience of leading public sector organisations, the education sector & social enterprise. He is skilled in place-based leadership, crisis management, major capital project delivery, regeneration & economic programme management, local government transformation, arts, culture & tourism development, community engagement, climate change policy & transport planning.

MICHELLE ROTHWELL, WATCH THIS SPACE | Michelle’s latest work in Cumbria includes two new schemes with a combined value of around £4.4m: Lake District Workspace, comprising 12 speculative self-contained offices, & Lake District Coliving — a purpose-built residential community focused on connection & lifestyle.

HOWARD LORD, CERT PROPERTY | In 2015, Howard took the decision to transform CERT from a consultancy business to become a developer & manager of residential & commercial properties across the North West. Since then, having delivered c.£200m of projects to date, his biggest motivation is adding value through real estate by creating places people want to live & work, & the ability to positively impact people’s lives through nurturing talent.

GILL HAIGH, CUMBRIA TOURISM | Gill joined Cumbria Tourism in 2017 following her previous role as director of marketing & recruitment at the University of Cumbria. During a 30 plus year career in marketing & communications, she has gained substantial leadership experience across both the private & public sectors, specifically travel & tourism.

DAVID BROWN, CASTLES & COASTS HOUSING ASSOCIATION | David is responsible for CCHA’s new housing programme, ensuring the association has a land supply, designers & contractors in place to deliver 600 new homes across Cumbria and the North East of England. He is also responsible for ensuring CCHA is compliant with the Homes England Capital Funding Guide.

JAMES SCOTT, MAPLE GROVE DEVELOPMENTS | James is a director and leads on commercial developments for Maple Grove across the North, which are either direct or in partnership with the public or private sector & includes the Lancashire Central development in partnership with Lancashire County Council to deliver 1.7m sq ft of commercial space & Penrith J41 a direct development which will deliver 250,000 sq ft.

ALEX GARDINER, METRO DYNAMICS | Alex is a senior local government specialist who works with places to use data & analysis to develop new strategies & ideas to grow the local economy in ways which work for everyone. Alex worked with Cumbria over six months to co-develop their economic strategy, undertaking large scale engagement & evidence gathering to develop an ambitious set of priorities for Cumbria to focus on.

ISOBEL BROWN, ENTERPRISING CUMBRIA | Isobel has worked at board & investment group level within the public & private sectors & has supported several Cabinet Office advisory groups. She was responsible for the annual procurement of over £150m of Scottish Skills & Learning programmes. She has provided strategic advice & mobilised teams for the Midlands Engine, the British Business Bank’s Startup Loans Company, Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership & a DWP £100m programme encouraging those furthest away from the labour market back to work.

Organisations that attended this event last year included Deloitte, Genr8 North, Turley, Curtins, Avison Young, Wardell Armstrong, Brodies, Russell Bolton Consulting, Ashwood Design Associates, Eric Wright Group, Morham + Brotchie Partnership, Abbott & Associates, Hill Dickinson, Stephenson Halliday, Lake District National Park, SEC Newgate UK, Morgan Sindall Construction, Team Eco, Carter Jonas, RHI Construction, and more. View last year’s event write up and gallery here.

Tickets cost £88+VAT. Local authorities and registered providers can purchase tickets at a 50% discount below.

There will be a mix of presentations and panels. Breakfast and lunch are included, providing plenty of opportunity for business development.

This event is sponsored by Caddick and Curtins

View sponsorship opportunities

Book using the form below – if you can’t see the form, please contact [email protected]