Former bank in Carlisle city centre may be turned into flats

The development would be at a former bank on Lowther Street which is within the city conservation area.

A planning report states: "The building sits along Lowther Street, east of the shopping precinct, and forms part of a terrace of former town houses along the west side of the road.

"This former bank is now vacant and sits alongside other banking buildings, shops and restaurants. To the rear of the property there is an access road."

According to the report there is a contemporary two-storey, half width, extension and the neighbouring properties are an existing club and business properties which combine to form a short terrace between Bank Street and Devonshire Street.

The report states: "The area has altered from an open courtyard inside the city gate in the 16th century, to become densely packed lanes by the end of the 18th century and the forming of the current street pattern in the early to mid-19th century when the areas around and beyond the walls were redeveloped.

"The existing use for the building was originally a town house, and latterly a bank. The building is currently vacant, but the surrounding uses are predominantly banking, commercial, clubs/bars and restaurants.

"Many have residential flats above."

A map of the site (Image: Cumberland Council planning portal)

According to the report the building lies within what was the old town area and was the historical edge of the walled city. It adds: "The area known as Cuthbert Within sits below St Mary and lies to the east of the old town hall.

"The area itself has much historical significance."

When outlining the proposed design the report states that during the design stage attention was paid to preserving and improving the character of the street scene of the conservation area and the listed building in context to its attached neighbour covered by the same listing.

It adds: "The existing street scene will remain ostensibly the same with the proposals seeking to retain and repair the listed facade. It is proposed to install a new window to the basement which will be reopened on the northern most window to serve the new bedroom.

"This will be in conjunction with re-forming of the external lightwell and associated localized drainage. Windows will aim to match the existing timber sashes. This will partially restore the external appearance of number 37.

"Internally the aim is to retain the majority of the existing layout and restore some of the missing walls to reform the existing rooms. Additional partitioning will be added within the spaces to form the four flats’ sanitary and storage areas."

The application is currently being considered by planning officers at the council.