Building firm Sir Robert McAlpine has pulled out of the University of Cumbria’s flagship £55 million Citadels project in Carlisle after two years.
The firm said it wanted to concentrate on its other projects – and now the search is on for a new contractor.
McAlpine has been working with the university for two years on the Citadels scheme, but after winning tenders for two new large infrastructure projects, it has decided to focus on those.
The university has now issued a contract notice inviting expressions of interest for the Carlisle contract.
University of Cumbria chief operating officer Mark Swindlehurst, said: “I’d like to thank Sir Robert McAlpine 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.”
Sir Robert McAlpine was appointed as sole contractor in March 2022 and won the bid, the university said, because its tender focused as much on the social benefits of the new campus, such as jobs and training opportunities, as its construction.
The University of Cumbria and Cumberland Council 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.
The project is worth £77.5m in total – £50 million of funding for the project is being provided by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities through the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal with an additional £4 million from the Carlisle Town Deal Fund and the university expected to help meet the balance.
The new campus plans will keep the Grade I listed Citadels rotundas on the proposed site along with other historic and heritage features, including the majority of the Woolworths building. The design seeks to open the site and facilities, in a managed way, to the public, allowing it to be accessible, inclusive, and inspirational.
Planning permission for the new campus development, which will be delivered in two phases, was granted in August 2022. The new campus is on track to open in August 2026 and prebuild site investigations for phase one will begin later this year
