MP visits University of Cumbria Citadels campus site A


t the close of last year Vice Chancellor Professor Julie Mennell DL welcomed Carlisle MP Julie Minns to the site of the University of Cumbria’s future city centre campus in Carlisle.


The Carlisle Citadels campus project is one of the city’s major regeneration schemes and is supported by the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal


The lion’s share of the overall funding required, £50 million, is being provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government through the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal with an additional £5.2m from the Carlisle Town Deal Fund.


The university is also contributing to the cost of the scheme. A formal request to the Borderlands Partnership Board is seeking an additional £8 million of funding and is awaiting approval from Government.


Also, a formal process to appoint a contractor continues with a decision expected by spring 2025. Once a contractor is appointed, it is anticipated that construction will pave the way for the first phase of the Citadels campus to be ready to welcome students from 2027.


Vice Chancellor Professor Julie Mennell DL said: “We are happy to have this opportunity to update the city’s MP on progress made to date and the next steps of this major scheme. Work has continued behind the scenes, with asbestos removal and soft strip works preparing the site in readiness for when a contractor is selected - all with a view of building work starting in 2025.


“It is an exciting time for the university and the wider city as we move towards realising our vision and into the next phase of delivery for this transformational project.


“As we await a decision on our funding request, we continue to work closely with our partners including Cumberland Council and the Borderlands Partnership, to ensure that the project is ready to progress when the next milestones are reached.”


Carlisle MP Julie Minns said: “It was very helpful to visit the site earmarked for the University of Cumbria’s new campus – a development that marks another step in the development of our university and one that offers the potential to further transform for Carlisle and its historic city centre.


“Having thousands of students attending lectures and studying in the city centre will be a huge boost for Carlisle’s city centre, with local businesses set to benefit from having a large number of vibrant and diverse new customers on their doorstep.


“This new campus is being made possible thanks to government funding and along with the new Pears Cumbria School of Medicine will further raise Carlisle’s profile as an exciting place to study.”


A transformative educational project


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cCoy Contractors, a leading groundworks and civil engineering contractor, is playing a vital role in the major redevelopment of Coundon Court School in Coventry as part of the Department for Education’s 10-year Schools Rebuilding Programme.


Appointed by main contractor Wates Construction, McCoy Contractors has completed the extensive groundworks package for Block 1 and Block 2.


The £40 million project aims to create a modern, net-zero carbon campus while preserving the school’s heritage buildings


and respecting nearby green belt areas. It involves demolishing six existing blocks and replacing them with three new state-of-the-art teaching facilities, with four teaching blocks and two locally listed buildings retained.


McCoy’s scope of works across the 3,500m2 site includes earthworks, site drainage, concrete floor slabs, installation of new services, and hard landscaping. A key challenge has been maintaining a safe learning environment while the school remains operational, requiring temporary classrooms, fencing, barriers and access routes.


“We are delighted to contribute our groundworks expertise to this transformative educational project,” said Chris Haughey, Managing Director at McCoy Contractors. “Our team has worked above and beyond to deliver high-quality groundworks while ensuring minimal disruption to the school’s daily activities, and a safe environment for students and staff.”


The Coundon Court School redevelopment is part of the government’s ambition to rebuild and refurbish schools across England, creating modern environments that support excellent teaching and allow students to gain the knowledge and skills for success.


Winter 2025 issue 4178 9


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