Last updated at 15:24, Thursday, 12 April 2012
The Mansion House has been a seat of local government for almost a century.
It could soon have a new lease of life, perhaps as a luxury hotel or swanky apartments.
Eden council wants to sell the handsome listed Georgian structure and adjoining land in Burrowgate.
The Carlisle-based commercial-property specialist Walton Goodland is offering the freehold for £1.1 million, although it will consider offers to lease Mansion House.
Stephen Sewell, a director of Walton Goodland, said: “It will be interesting to see what the future holds for the property specifically in terms of its use.
“Eden has produced a planning brief that outlines the sorts of uses it is prepared to consider.
“It is saying residential, hotel or retail, or the existing use as offices. These are the uses it would like, bearing in mind its location in the town centre.
“The building is Grade II* listed so whatever use has to be sympathetic to where it is and what it is.”
The commercial-property market is hardly buoyant but Mansion House is unique and as such Mr Sewell expects it to generate strong interest from potential occupiers.
He added: “There are 88 parking spaces to the front or rear.
“That provides space to extend, subject to planning permission, and a potential income stream as a car park.
“We anticipate a good level of interest and welcome discussions with interested parties. Everyone knows the state of the market but when the right property comes on, the buyers are there.”
Eden is disposing of Mansion House as part of a plan to centralise its offices at the Town Hall in Stricklandgate, where it plans to build a £1.2m extension.
This will house two committee rooms, a leader’s room, hot desking for 20, new offices for 50, five interview rooms and two meeting rooms.
All council functions will be accommodated at the town hall apart from the tourist information centre and the Penrith and Eden museum.
The move should save the cash-strapped authority around £100,000 a year by reducing overheads.
Council leader Gordon Nicolson said: “The proceeds from the lease or sale of Mansion House will help to finance the one-site project, which is currently being developed.
“The availability for lease or sale of a property of this character and distinction will attract a lot of interest.
“However, it will be for full council in July to determine how any offers received for Mansion House proceed.”
Mansion House is one of Penrith’s finest and most recognisable buildings, built for John Whelpdale, a Penrith lawyer, in 1750.
English Heritage’s listing highlights the doorway with its heavily-moulded architrave, console brackets, segmental cornice and six-panelled door in two halves.
The interior has a fine staircase with delicate turned-iron balusters.
Penrith Rural District Council bought Mansion House in 1919 and it has remained in public hands ever since, passing to Eden Council under local government reorganisation in 1974.
Since then the council has sympathetically restored the buildings, which remain in good repair. The 0.95-acre site is next to St Andrew’s Churchyard and only 150 yards from Market Square and Devonshire Street.
Accommodation is on three floors, plus basement storage, and the total gross internal footprint is 14,080sq ft.
The car park is used as staff car park during the week and as a pay-and-display car park at weekends.
The council is prepared to consider splitting the site and will consider rental offers for part or the whole.
Lease terms are not being quoted.
The sale of Mansion House coincides with Penrith’s New Squares development of mixed-use retail and residential being undertaken and anchored by Sainsbury’s.
It also follows the recent opening of a Booths supermarket in the town and a rebuild of Morrisons following a fire.
The former Greggs bakery headquarters, adjacent to Mansion House, was also sold recently to the retirement-accommodation specialist McCarthy and Stone.
Information and copies of the property brochure for Mansion House can be obtained online at www.waltongoodland.com.
This includes plans of the property and floor areas.
Alternatively, Walton Goodland can be contacted at 10 Lowther Street, Carlisle, by phone on 01228 514199 or by email at info@waltongoodland.com.
All enquiries should be directed to Mr Sewell or Deborah Goodland.
First published at 11:57, Thursday, 12 April 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk
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