By Kelly Pattison

Last updated at 12:04, Saturday, 06 July 2013

Work has started to demolish the site which will be transformed into a £5.3 million arts centre with the latest hi-tech facilities.

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Bulldozers can be seen knocking down some of the Swifts Mews buildings opposite the sixth form of Trinity School in Carlisle. The redundant buildings are being bulldozed by Carlisle College to pave the way for its new arts centre.

Last month the city council granted planning permission for the new arts and digital equipment complex to be created on Strand Road.

When completed, it will house students who have been sharing space with those from the University of Cumbria at the university’s Brampton Road campus.

New facilities in the centre will include a theatre, performance and rehearsal areas, music recording and rehearsal booths and media-editing suites.

There will also be a studio and gallery space to showcase the work of up-and-coming artists.

A £3m grant from the Government’s Skills and Funding Agency has already been confirmed and the college is confident of securing the rest of the money needed to allow the centre to open in next year.

The college, which owns the site, is “100 per cent confident” of securing the remaining funding to allow the complex to open by late summer next year.

Plans are to add two modern wings to an existing brick building at Swifts Mews, retaining its facade and three-storey tower while demolishing an “unsightly” former sports hall to the rear. The scheme includes an internal courtyard, bike store and staff car park.

The project is the latest in a series of schemes to overhaul the 1,400-student college’s campus on Victoria Place.

It comes on the back of upgrades that have topped £20m over the last seven years.

First published at 10:41, Saturday, 06 July 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk