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Whitbread has secured the former Central Plaza site in Carlisle with the intention of redeveloping it into a 104-bedroom Premier Inn hotel.
The former Central Plaza site has been without an owner for several years and has been subject to escheat by The Crown Estate.
Carlisle City Council demolished and cleared the hotel that stood on the site in 2020 after it became structurally unsafe.
Cumberland Council had been in dialogue with The Crown Estate’s advisors to acquire the site and enable its redevelopment. Working with CBRE, the council selected Whitbread as the preferred developer due to the company’s position as the UK’s leading hotel operator and the strength of its proposal for the regeneration of the site.
Whitbread now intends to submit a planning application for the new hotel this summer and is targeting an opening date before the end of 2028.
Whitbread acquisition manager Jill Anderson said: “We’re excited to bring Premier Inn to the heart of Carlisle, providing high-quality, affordable hotel accommodation in a prime and accessible location.
“This development underscores our commitment to expanding Premier Inn across the North of England, supporting local economies and creating lasting employment opportunities. We’re proud to be investing in Carlisle’s future and bringing this important city centre site back into long-term use.”
Leader of Carlisle City Council Mark Fryer added: “I am delighted that an investor has been secured for the site. It is another important step forward for the regeneration of Carlisle city centre.
“Work is already underway on the city centre transformation scheme 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.”
