Council to Explore Potential of Securing Additional Money to Expand Town Hall Plans

Westmorland and Furness Council hope to secure additional funding to expand on plans to transform Penrith townhall into a new creative and community hub following its cancellation earlier this month at £180,000 delivery tender it advertised for the town hall project.

The council had secured £3 million from government funding that must be spent by March 2028 for the town hall along £500,000 from the Borderlands Growth fund but the council now plans after feedback from the community to seek additional funding to expand on plans for the town hall.

A spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness Council, said: "Following early feedback from the recent Community Conversation, Westmorland and Furness Council has taken a decision to explore the potential for securing additional investment in Penrith Town Hall.

"As a result, the current tender process inviting interest in the contract for works to develop a creative and community hub at the town hall no longer meets the ambitions of the programme and a revised tender will be advertised in the new year.

"This decision allows the council to explore the potential for additional investment, which could allow for a more ambitious scheme to be realised, if funding can be secured.

"This does not mean the project has been stopped, or that there is any threat to funding already secured for the delivery of the creative and community hub at Penrith Town Hall. Indeed, the potential for additional funding means the council will be in a better position to develop proposals for the town hall and deliver a scheme that best matches the ambitions of the community.

"The tender will build on proposals for the town hall, which will reflect the results of the community conversation, engagement with Westmorland and Furness Council Cabinet and be subject to an Outline Business Case in line with good practice."

The council hopes to readvertise its tenders for the townhall in the new year and the council cabinet is expected to make a decision on plans in January.

The council had secured an extension on the £3million government funding originally due to be spent by 2027 with the extension granted to March 2028 with further extensions to deadlines unlikely placing the council on a tight timetable for tendering any future delivery contracts and completion of the town hall transformation.