Newsquest and LOCALiQ is set to invest in new offices on the current Dalston Road site in Carlisle. The Whitehouse, a separate office space in the grounds of Newspaper House, is set to be transformed into a state of the art newsroom and digital marketing agency for LOCALiQ.
The investment will secure the future of the News & Star and The Cumberland News as the leading local news publishers in Carlisle and North Cumbria, says Newsquest. It follows recent investment of £1.5m across the Newsquest network in 50 new digital reporters - three of those in Cumbria. As part of the plans, the city landscape will change forever.
The now empty former printing press and press hall building, in the industrial area of the Dalston Road site, will be demolished if plans submitted to Carlisle City Council are given the green light.
This will mean the iconic tower displaying the News & Star and The Cumberland News branding will be moved to the Whitehouse. A specialist demolition company will carry out the work.
David Coates, managing director for Newsquest North, said: “The redevelopment of the Whitehouse is our firm commitment to ensuring the News & Star and The Cumberland News remain the number one publisher of local news in Carlisle and North Cumbria.
“The Dalston Road site no longer meets the need of a growing modern newsroom or digital marketing agency.
“We plan to create a great space for our teams to work in as well as an inviting proposition for local clients to visit.”
The press hall has not been in service for more than two years after print production of the Cumbria titles moved to Newsquest’s Glasgow print centre. The rest of the Dalston Road site is set to be put on the market in future weeks and months. Vanessa Sims, editor of the News & Star and The Cumberland News, said: “This project is really exciting.
“Investing in a state-of-the-art newsroom at our iconic Dalston Road site when so many other publishers are scaling back really shows our commitment to being the voice of Carlisle and North Cumbria.
“Our dedicated and growing team of journalists will continue to be based at the home of the News & Star and The Cumberland News bringing you the stories that matter the most.”
The Whitehouse project aims to be completed by early 2022. Newsquest has employed a team of architects to redesign the layout of the two storey building to ensure the space is maximised.
Lee Taylor-Craddock, LOCALiQ sales director, said: “This investment demonstrates LOCALiQ’s commitment to being the number one digital marketing company in Cumbria.
“This fantastic space will be the perfect place for our talented sales team to base themselves and meet new clients.
“This new space will complement our modern and marketing leading approach.”
Keep up-to-date with publishing news: sign up here for InPubWeekly, our free weekly e-newsletter.
