Westmorland and Furness Council is set to approve this week a list of assets owned by the council as surplus to the councils needs that could see the council dispose of the land and buildings.
The list includes a number of areas of land and building in and around Penrith including Mansion House, Two shop units on Corney Square currently used by ‘Evan’ as an art gallery and studio. Another areas of land is the site that the former GreenGarth care home was located on until Cumbria County Council demolished it in 2021. Other assets the council has said are surplus to its needs include a carpark and other parcels of greenspace land around the town including land at Frenchfield adjacent to the council owned Football Stadium.
The full list of surplus land and buildings the council has identified in Penrith includes:
4/4a Corney Square, Penrith CA11 7PX Penrith - Surplus Building 286m2
Economic Development land adj Skirsgill Highways Depot CA10 2BQ Penrith - Surplus Land 1.6ha
Former Greengarth Care home site, Tynefield Drive CA11 8HZ Penrith - Surplus Land 0.41ha
Kilgours Field CA11 8JH Penrith - Surplus Land 0.09ha
Land Adjacent Football Stadium, Frenchfield CA11 8UU Penrith - Surplus Land 1.34ha
Mansion House CA11 7YG Penrith - Surplus Building 0.38h
McAdam Way Land CA11 9HE Penrith - Surplus Land 0.13ha
Newton Road open space CA11 9EE Penrith - Surplus Land 0.12ha
Penrith Cemetery Chapel CA11 7RZ Penrith - Surplus Building 107m2
Plimsoll Close Car Park CA11 9EY Penrith - Surplus Land 0.02ha
Skirsgill Grazing Plot CA10 2BQ Penrith - Surplus Land 1.096ha
Land at Eamont Bridge CA10 2BH Penrith - Surplus Land 1.93ha
The Friends of Penrith Cemetery were recently told by the council that the Penrith Cemetery chapel is already set for a new commercial occupier to sign contracts expected to take place following the approval of the surplus assets list by the council at its meeting in Kendal on Thursday.
Other assets on the councils list around the local area include land next to Howard Park in Greystoke. Two areas of land around Stainton are also on the councils list of surplus assets along with Armathwaite Allotments and Housing Land at High Street, Morland.
Cllr Andrew Jarvis, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance will ask councillors to agree recommendations relating to the list of assets identified as surplus to the council’s current service needs so they can be considered under the councils Capital Strategy and Strategic Asset Management Strategy which includes the councils Property Disposal Policy.
The report to be presented to councillors by Cllr Jarvis recommends that the Property Disposal Policy is applied to the assets identified and that council officers are given delegated authority subject to consultation with the council Leaders to authorise sales of surplus Council land and premises and the Estates & Investment Manager be given delegated authority to determine the method of sale.
A spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness Council said:
“The listing of surplus land and property assets supports the priorities of our Council Plan, which requires effective management of resources when delivering public services to ensure efficiency and the best outcome for council tax payers.
“The review work has identified assets whose purpose and future use requires consideration, this does not mean a listed asset will necessarily go on to be disposed.
“Under our Property Disposal Policy, there are several stages prior to sale. This ensures that all opportunities are explored first, both for the council to make alternative use of the asset, or for it to be transferred for partner or community use. Alternative use of the asset is an important stage in the disposal policy and is particularly relevant given the creation of the new unitary council and opportunities that this may create.”