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Site of new Premier Inn in Carlisle City Centre – Image Credit Whitbread
Whitbread has submitted a planning application for a new 104-bedroom Premier Inn hotel in Carlisle, aiming to begin development in 2026 with completion expected by 2028.
Whitbread has filed a planning application to develop a new Premier Inn hotel in Carlisle City Centre. The proposed hotel, located on Victoria Viaduct near the Carlisle train station, will feature 104 bedrooms and is part of Whitbread’s strategic growth plans for northern England.
The site for the new hotel is the former Central Plaza location, which Whitbread acquired from the Cumberland Council in May 2025. The site has historical ties to the hospitality industry dating back to 1881, but was left vacant after the previous structure was demolished between 2019 and 2020.
The proposed development includes a five-story building that will house both ‘Standard’ and ‘Premier Plus’ rooms, along with a restaurant. The hotel is accessible from Victoria Viaduct, with public parking nearby at West Walls car park.
Whitbread estimates that the new hotel will accommodate approximately 30,000 guests annually once it reaches full operational capacity. An economic impact assessment included in the planning application suggests that these guests could contribute over £4 million annually to the local economy, benefiting the leisure and tourism sectors.
The development is expected to create around 25 permanent hospitality jobs upon opening. Additionally, approximately 45 jobs in the construction supply chain are anticipated to be supported during the £12 million construction phase.
Subject to planning approval, Whitbread plans to commence construction in 2026, with the hotel expected to open before the end of 2028. The new hotel will align with Whitbread’s sustainability initiatives, using electricity from renewable sources and incorporating heat recovery systems and air-source heat pumps to reduce energy demand.
