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Event Details

Thursday 18 June 2026, 8:00 - 12:00

Castle Green Hotel, Castle Green Ln, Kendal LA9 6RG

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Cumbria Development Update 2026

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For years Cumbria has been making the case to government for infrastructure funding to unlock the county’s economic potential. Will a mayoral combined authority have better luck? Find out at this conference that will explore the unique set of economic challenges and opportunities facing Cumbria.

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

Speakers confirmed include

Miranda Cannon, West Morland & Furness Council p West Morland & Furness Council

Miranda Cannon

chief executive, Westmorland and Furness Council

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Miranda Cannon

chief executive, Westmorland and Furness Council

Cannon was appointed chief executive of Westmorland and Furness Council in January 2026. She brings more than 25 years’ senior leadership experience across large unitary authorities, national audit, and consultancy and major transformation programmes. As Chief Executive, she leads one of England’s largest geographic unitary councils. Cannon has previously served as executive director of Resources and Transformation at Salford City Council, where she led major programmes such as the council-wide Innovate Transformation Programme which included a focus on replacement of legacy systems, new neighbourhood prevention models, and strategic workforce reform.
Miranda Cannon, West Morland & Furness Council p West Morland & Furness Council
Laura Percy, Muse, p PMLR

Laura Percy

development director, Muse

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Laura Percy

development director, Muse

Percy is a development director at Muse with over 18 years’ experience delivering major mixed-use regeneration projects across the UK and internationally. Renowned for leading complex public-private partnerships, she brings deep expertise in creating long-term value through design-led, commercially robust, and socially impactful places. Before joining Muse in 2025, Percy was senior development Director at Landsec, where she led transformative schemes across the Northwest including the £1.7bn Mayfield regeneration and the acquisition of MediaCityUK. Previously, as head of development at Bruntwood, she directed nationally significant projects such as ID Manchester and Circle Square. Percy excels at navigating multi-phase developments, securing investment, and aligning diverse stakeholders to deliver sustainable, inclusive urban transformation.
Laura Percy, Muse, p PMLR
Angela Jones (x)

Angela Jones

director, Thriving Places at Westmorland & Furness Council

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Angela Jones

director, Thriving Places at Westmorland & Furness Council

Jones brings experience across local authority place based services including; economic development, planning, regulatory services, highways and transport, flood risk management, property and facilities management, waste and community services. She is chair of the ADEPT North West Board.
Angela Jones (x)
Cllr Jonathan Brook, Westmorland and Furness Council, p Westmorland and Furness (x) copy

Cllr Jonathan Brook

Leader, Westmorland & Furness Council

Libby Bateman, Liberal Democratic Party, p Liberal Democratic Party

Libby Bateman

Mayoral candidate, Liberal Democrats

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Libby Bateman

Mayoral candidate, Liberal Democrats

Bateman is the Liberal Democrat candidate for Mayor of Cumbria. A former county councillor representing Kirkby Stephen, she has extensive experience in local government and rural advocacy. Bateman has also worked as a community campaigner in Cumbria, including supporting broadband rollout and running a bus service in remote areas. She brings a strong focus on local services, connectivity and infrastructure upgrades to her mayoral campaign.
Libby Bateman, Liberal Democratic Party, p Liberal Democratic Party
Mike Starkie, Coservative p conservative

Mike Starkie

Mayoral candidate, Conservative Party

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Mike Starkie

Mayoral candidate, Conservative Party

As Mayoral candidate, Starkie brings a record of accomplishment in both the private sector. Having previously led a council as an elected mayor in Copeland he built a track record of engaging with businesses and government to attract unprecedented levels of funding and investment.
Mike Starkie, Coservative p conservative
David Allen, Labour p Labour

David Allen

Mayoral candidate, Labour Party

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David Allen

Mayoral candidate, Labour Party

Allen is Labour’s candidate for Mayor of Cumbria and currently serves as Cumbria’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner. He previously completed a 30-year career at the highest levels of policing and law enforcement, finishing as Head of the UK’s Interpol Bureau, before spending seven years working in the NHS. Allen is standing for Mayor to provide strong local leadership, improve transport connections, create skilled jobs, deliver more affordable homes, support thriving town and rural communities, and strengthen partnership working to tackle environmental damage, and anti-social behaviour, helping make Cumbria an even safer and more prosperous place to live and work.
David Allen, Labour p Labour
Lauren Allison, Genesis homes p Genesis homes

Lauren Allison

head of communities & engagement, Genesis Homes

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Lauren Allison

head of communities & engagement, Genesis Homes

Allison is head of communities & engagement at Genesis Homes, leading on community initiatives that ensure the company has a positive impact in the areas where it builds and integrates with the local community. The introduction of her role to the business in 2025 highlights a keen commitment from Genesis Homes to be a community-focussed homebuilder through engagement, events and a strong added value proposition for its customers. Allison's background is in marketing and communications, and she has worked in housebuilding over the past few years, bringing a breadth of experience to this exciting vision for Genesis Homes.
Lauren Allison, Genesis homes p Genesis homes
Darren Crossley, Cumberland Council p Cumberland Council

Darren Crossley

director of place & economy, Cumberland Council

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Darren Crossley

director of place & economy, Cumberland Council

Crossley is an experienced director of place with a successful career delivering change and improvement in the public sector. Skilled in place based leadership, population health programme development, major capital project delivery, local government transformation, arts and cultural development, social enterprise, business planning, operations management, coaching, and mentoring.
Darren Crossley, Cumberland Council p Cumberland Council
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Andrew Bennett

interim chief executive officer, Team Barrow

Kurt Canfield, Delkia CEO. Photo c, Lee Parkinson Photography

Kurt Canfield

co-owner, Jennings Brewery

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Kurt Canfield

co-owner, Jennings Brewery

In 2025, Kurt Canfield and Rebecca Canfield acquired Jennings Brewery, restoring brewing to their hometown of Cockermouth and continuing the site’s long-standing heritage. The brewery once again produces its well-known ales, including Cumberland Ale, Sneck Lifter, Cocker Hoop and Castle Bitter, using the original on-site well water.
Kurt Canfield, Delkia CEO. Photo c, Lee Parkinson Photography
PNW Headshot placeholder icon EVENT

Thomas Andrew

Cumbria Combined Authority

Agenda

8:00 am

Arrival, networking & breakfast

9:00 am

Welcome from Dan Whelan, deputy editor, Place North West

9:05 am

Presentation: Kurt Canfield, co-owner, Jennings Brewery

9:15 am

Panel Discussion: State of the Market

Angela Jones, director, Thriving Places at Westmorland & Furness Council

Thomas Andrew, Cumbria Combined Authority

Lauren Allison, head of communities & engagement, Genesis Homes

Darren Crossley, director of place & economy, Cumberland Council

Kurt Canfield, co-owner, Jennings Brewery

10:00 am

Refreshment and networking break

10:25 am

Presentation: Why Barrow?

Laura Percy, development director, Muse

10:35 am

Panel Discussion: Why Barrow?

Cllr Jonathan Brook, Leader, Westmorland & Furness Council

Miranda Cannon, chief executive, Westmorland & Furness Council

Laura Percy, development director, Muse

Andrew Bennett, interim chief executive officer, Team Barrow

11:10 am

Mayoral Candidate 2027 Hustings

Libby Bateman, Liberal Democrats

Mike Starkie, Conservative Party

David Allen, Labour Party

12:00 pm

Closing remarks, lunch and further networking

Tickets cost £90+VAT. Local authorities and registered providers can purchase tickets at a 50% discount.

Media Pack 2026

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