PLANS are in motion for the University of Cumbria to sell off their Brampton Road campus to help fund the new Citadel project. 

The education provider plans to vacate the premise which is currently home to the Institute of Arts, offering courses such as photography, graphic design and illustration to around 1,000 students. 

Funds recouped from the sale will go towards a new 'transformative' University of Cumbria campus which includes the retention of the two Grade-I listed Citadel rotundas in the heart of the city. 

£55.2m, of the total £78m cost of the project, has come from the Borderland Inclusive Growth Deal. 

The university's deputy chief operating officer & director of finance and resources, Kate McLaughlin-Flynn, said it's 'too early to say' what the future of the campus will be used for. 

"Our intention is to fully vacate from Brampton Road and sell the campus. 

"Plans for exactly what will happen to the campus are still in development and being worked through. 

"In terms of what it gets used for, it’s too early to say," she said. 

Back in 2021, former Carlisle City Councillor for Stanwix, Elizabeth Mallinson, said the Brampton Road Campus could provide the perfect opportunity for a new primary school, addressing issues of school provision as the city's housing developments continues to grow. 

Previous statements also said that the university planned to vacate the 'majority of Fusehill Street campus'.

The main contractor for the development, Sir Robert McAlpine, met with local businesses and suppliers yesterday (June 13) to explore collaboration opportunities at the Carlisle Station Hotel. 

In March last year, SRM secured the tender for £77.5m project. 

Last month, University of Cumbria confirmed the project - which will be split in two phases- is on track to be completed by August 2026 despite 'significant inflationary pressures', with rebuild site investigations for phase one due to begin later this year.