The University of Cumbria has advertised a fresh deal to build its new campus in Carlisle city centre after Sir Robert McAlpine (SRM) walked away from the delayed scheme.
The Hertfordshire-headquartered contractor said in March 2022 that it had been named as sole contractor on the £78m Citadels project (pictured) and expected to be on site the following year.
But with the construction phase of the job still to begin, SRM has chosen to focus on other work.
The client body published a formal procurement notice giving interested parties until 24 June to throw their hats in the ring for a £55m design, build and services contract on the campus project.
University of Cumbria chief operating officer Mark Swindlehurst said the design was “ready to go”.
The client will run a tender for a new contractor “with a view to building work starting on site in early 2025”, he added.
SRM executive managing director of buildings Grant Findlay said: “We will watch with pride as 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 project will see almost 10,000 square metres of space created for the university through a mixture of new buildings and refurbishments.
These will be used for a variety of academic purposes as well as food and drink and car parking.
Meanwhile, the existing Woolworths building will be revamped and the Grade I-listed hospital wing redeveloped.
Pedestrian routes, public realm, landscaping and connectivity with the city’s train station will be upgraded.
The university said work had continued behind the scenes, with the vacation and possession of several properties on English Street and Victoria Viaduct and agreements for the transfer of council-owned land.
Surveys and ground investigations have also been completed and the procurement notice issued.
The largest chunk of funding for the scheme, £50m, has come from the government’s Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.
An additional £4m was secured from the Carlisle Town Deal Fund, while the university is also expected to contribute.
