UK-based hospitality company Whitbread has applied for planning permission to build a new 104-room Premier Inn hotel on Victoria Viaduct in Carlisle.
The company completed the purchase of the site, previously known as Central Plaza, from Cumberland Council in May 2025.
The location is situated near Carlisle railway station and existing Premier Inn hotels in the area.
Whitbread intends to construct a five-storey building, housing Standard and upgraded Premier Plus rooms, along with a restaurant accessible from Victoria Viaduct.
The accommodation will extend from the lower ground up to the fourth floor, with the reception and dining facilities located at upper ground level.
The company expects the hotel would accommodate 30,000 guests a year after its establishment.
According to an economic impact report included within the application, these visitors are expected to contribute over £4m annually to Carlisle’s visitor economy.
The development is anticipated to create around 25 new permanent positions once operational and support approximately 45 jobs in construction during the build phase, which is estimated at £12m.
Whitbread north of England acquisition manager Jill Anderson said: “Since announcing our plans in May 2025 people have told us that they wish to see the vacant Central Plaza site brought back into long-term use. They also welcome the new employment opportunities and positive economic benefits the hotel will bring to the city.”
The planned site has historical ties to hospitality dating back to 1881 but has remained vacant since its previous structure was demolished between 2019 and 2020.
If planning permission is granted, Whitbread aims to begin work in 2026 and open the hotel before the end of 2028.
The proposal includes sustainability measures such as using electricity from renewable sources, incorporating heat recovery systems, and installing air source heat pumps to minimise energy demand.
Anderson added: “The site on West Walls is not an easy location to redevelop into a hotel and we’ve had to be flexible to create a design that meets our operational requirements and is economically viable.
“The contemporary design we are proposing responds positively to the historic context and will create an active frontage onto both Victoria Viaduct and West Walls. We’re eager to move the proposal forward, get onto site and deliver the package of benefits the hotel will create.”
