THE construction company which had been due to deliver the major Carlisle Citadels project for the University of Cumbria has pulled out of the contract.

The move has led the University to issue a new tender for the £55million work.

Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM), which had been working with the university since March 2022, have pulled out after they won tenders for two large new infrastructure projects, and have therefore 'decided to focus on those'.

University of Cumbria chief operating officer, Mark Swindlehurst, said: “I’d like to thank SRM for all their work over the last two years getting us to this point and I know that they will be supporting us from the sidelines.

“We have a fantastic design ready to go and will now be going through a tender process to select a new contractor with a view to building work starting on site in early 2025.

“It’s an exciting time for the university, the wider city and region, as we move towards realising our vision and the next phase of delivery for this transformational project.”

The university has now issued a contract notice inviting expressions of interest in tendering for the building contract for the next stage of the project.

Grant Findlay, executive managing director of buildings at Sir Robert McAlpine, said: “We will watch with pride as The Citadels campus starts to take shape and will continue to support the project through our supply chain.

“This is an exciting project for whoever takes over the reins and we look forward to seeing the finished campus.”

The university has secured vacant possession of several properties on English Street and Victoria Viaduct and the remaining occupied properties on English Street will be vacated over the summer.

Alongside this, University of Cumbria and Cumberland Council continue to work together on the land assembly work required and are in the process of finalising new agreements for the transfer of the land and property owned by the council that is needed for the project.

Further surveys and ground investigations have also been completed, in order to finalise the designs, ahead of moving into the construction phase.

A contract notice has now been issued inviting expressions of interest in tendering for the building contract for the next stage of the project.

Planning permission for the project was approved in August 2022.