Throughout much of the 20th century, the administration of Cumberland County Council had been carried out from the Courts in Carlisle.[1] After amalgamation with Westmorland County Council in 1974,[2] Cumbria County Council continued to use these facilities as well as a series of Victorian houses on Portland Square, Brunswick Street and Alfred Street North in Carlisle[3] together with Lonsdale House in Lower Gaol Yard in Carlisle.[4] In the early 21st century, as a cost-saving measure, council leaders decided to co-locate all council activities in a single building:[5] the site they selected had been occupied by a former retail unit which had been converted for residential use (107-109 Botchergate) and a medical treatment centre (113-117 Botchergate).[6][7][8]
The new building, which was designed by architects, AHR, and built by Eric Wright Construction, was completed in December 2016.[9][10] The design for the steel framed building involved a wide glass and steel main frontage facing Botchergate with the right hand section projected forward.[11][12] The footprint of the building, with the left hand section set back, was designed to create a forecourt in which people could safely protest without being at risk from road traffic.[11]
The new offices were built to accommodate some 700 staff and to act as a catalyst for urban regeneration in the Botchergate area.[11] Although the administrative offices of the County Council were at Cumbria House in Botchergate, formal meetings of the Council continued to be held at the County Offices in Kendal.[13] In July 2019, the environmental movement, Extinction Rebellion, held a demonstration in the forecourt outside the building.[14] In September 2022, it was decided that Cumbria House would become the new headquarters for Cumberland Council.[15]
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