botchergate - Carlisle City Council

BOTCHERGATE CONSERVATION AREA APPRAISAL
servation area are largely retail or other uses
which do not enjoy permitted development
rights. Much of the incremental loss of architectural
elements in these buildings will
require planning permission. It is therefore not
likely that an Article 4 direction would be of
benefit to the Botchergate Conservation Area,
unless it is to address the handful of remaining
residential properties which retain historic
architectural detail such as the sash windows
at No 1 Blake Street (fig 59).
2.6 Development Opportunities
2.6.1 A development brief for Botchergate
was adopted in 1994. Arising from this came
proposals to develop the sites in Area One
now occupied by English Gate Plaza and the
Ibis hotel development. The former Co-Op
site on the west side of the street was redeveloped
as the Warner (Now Vue) cinema,
with the cinema disguising its large bulk very
Fig. 61 The large vacant ‘Mood’ building could be subdivided
to provide smaller retail units with upper floors suitable for
residential or office space.
effectively behind the retained facade of the
fire-damaged building.
2.6.2 Remaining opportunities include the
unimplemented permission for the block
between South Henry Street and Rydal
Street, although as noted above these buildings
could be reinvigorated without demolition.
Fig 62. Christ Church gardens - currently an undercapitalised asset. To work effectively, green spaces must have routes passing
through or around them, and be well overlooked. The space currently has none of these attributes.
Fig 63. There is potential for new residential/mixed use development in the area which could be focused on the Gardens, with
a new access broken through onto Lancaster Street (indicative illustration only).
26