We were appointed to provide civil, landscape and structural engineering services for the upgrade, narrowing and realignment of Devonshire Street within the city centre of Carlisle. The project was the first phase of the much wider Southern Gateway scheme for City regeneration, including transport and pedestrian improvements in Carlisle.
The Southern Gateway project forms part of the Council’s £100m regeneration programme for Carlisle, supported by UK Government funding through the Future High Streets Fund, Town Deal and Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal initiative. This multi-million-pound investment is focused on transforming the city centre by improving infrastructure, boosting economic growth and creating a more attractive, accessible environment for residents, businesses and visitors alike.
The project involved the widening of footways to enhance the pedestrian feel of the busy nighttime economy, helping to create a high-quality, more attractive, and accessible city centre. Works included widening the pavements on both sides of the road, the introduction of new seating, trees, and plants, providing cycle racks, a single lane carriageway for vehicles and two loading bays. This was not without its challenges, though: road encroachment towards existing cellars, lightwells and basements to the shop fronts and properties caused minor interruptions.
Curtins provided emergency works support and helped steer the structural solutions so that time and cost budgets could still be achieved despite temporary road closures to ensure pedestrian and user safety. Curtins provided concept landscape and public realm/urban designs, which were developed into engineering solutions as regeneration of the street; an improvement welcomed by residents and locals. Green spaces were added, including grass and perennial planting and trees. These spaces formed Sustainable Urban Drainage (SuDs) rain garden features to enhance and improve the space and water quality.