CARLISLE City Centre will have to adapt to new shopping trends as the 'high street' continues to lose out to retail parks like Gateway 44 and the continued success of online distributors DPD and Amazon. 

Like other cities, Carlisle has seen the closure of Debenhams and other national brands on the high street whilst Amazon based in Longtown will be joined by DPD Kingmoor Park industrial estate in August. 

The flip side of city high street decline was revealed this week as retail park Gateway 44 announced full occupancy.

Free parking and affordable shops like the newly-opened Home Bargains which opened on Gateway 44 last weekend shows shoppers are adapting to the cost of living crisis and reigning in spending. 

Carlisle's car parks are free at weekends but budget stores and online grocery shopping has been essential for cash-strapped working families. 

Leader of Carlisle City Council, Cllr John Mallinson, said the full occupancy is a representation of a 'growing city' and the ambition to provide a wider retail offering to Carlisle residents. 

But where does that leave the future of Carlisle's high street? 

Data from Ordnance Survey (OS) reflects a decline in retail in the city's high street. In March 2020 there were 305 retail shops; there were 34 fewer in March 2022 - a decrease of 11 per cent.

Cllr Marilyn Bowman, portfolio holder for economy, enterprise and housing, says we have to attract other mixed-use businesses that appeal to the public into the city centre if it is to thrive as it once did. 

"Gateway 44 wasn't to be in opposition because the city centre will always be the main focus for Carlisle and it has to be," she said. "But the city centre has to change, it's fairly obvious following Covid-19. 

"The large retailers like Debenhams that we had is clearly no longer viable, which is a great shame. 

"Carlisle has to grow but it certainly needs to change from the retail offer that's been there to become more mixed-use. One that covers the smaller retail outfits, independent businesses, entertainment, as well as cafe culture. 

"That's what we sadly lack in Carlisle is an evening economy - at 5 o'clock everyone goes home. We need to make it so you can sit in the city centre, have a coffee, a beer and enjoy the beautiful city we've got," she said. 

The councillor said we're in a very fortunate position following the allocation of £16.6m in funding coming from the Town Deal.

People have spoken for more greener areas and a further focus on the entertainment offering within the city centre - thanks to funding, a position Cllr Bowman says puts us 'in a very good place to go forward and follow what people have asked for'. 

In order to encourage further high street growth, Carlisle City Council is offering a Business Growth Grant - a grant fund offering up to £8,000 for businesses occupying a vacant premises within the high streets boundaries. 

"Times change, people have to adapt, that's what we're trying to do. It doesn't happen overnight but we are doing all we can. 

"The help is there, and we are ready, we just need people to contact us and we'll help them as we can," she said. 

Managing director of Cumbria's Chamber of Commerce, Suzanne Caldwell, said retail parks such as Gateway 44 pose a significant threat to the High Street retail. 

“While in some ways it’s great to see a retail park with full occupancy, this is set alongside significant gaps in the city centre and is more likely to draw people away from the city centre than to complement. 

"I’m not sure what the scope is for the two working together or what could really be achieved by this.

"If someone has a great idea then fabulous but I think it’s more likely that the city centre has to find its own way of reinventing itself," she said. 

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