A RADICAL 'vision' for Kendal has been revealed outlining a future for the town which could include a new railway stop and retail quarter.

The Kendal Vision, which has been driven by cross-sector partnership body Kendal Futures, is the result of many months of work which included a period of public consultation in October.

Mark Cropper, vice chairman of Kendal Futures, said he believed it could be used as a mandate to attract investment to the town and could 'catalyse' up to £1 billion investment in Kendal over the next 10 years.

"This will seem like a scary amount for some, especially given the town has changed so little over the years," he said.

“But with all parties public and private continuing to work together and communicate – something Kendal Futures is raising funds to lead on – the benefits will be huge and wide-ranging, whether attracting and retaining more young people, revitalising our high street, or making how we live and move much more sustainable.”

The extensive finished document was published on Wednesday alongside South Lakeland District Council’s (SLDC’s) Town Centre Strategy, although less was known about the detail of the latter at the time of the Gazette going to print.

Cllr Robin Ashcroft, SLDC portfolio holder for economy, culture and leisure, vowed both the Vision and the Town Centre Strategy would be “key tools used to inform council plans and policies to influence development positively.”

Central to the Vision document, which was backed by £50,000 from Kendal’s major employers as well as a contribution from SLDC, is revitalisation of the town centre.

The Vision states that October’s public workshops highlighted “the impact of traffic on the enjoyment and use of the town centre as a major concern.” It puts forward reopening Stricklandgate to two-way traffic as a potential way of relieving the problem. Other proposals for the town centre include:

-Replacing the Westmorland Shopping Centre with a new 'retail quarter' of lanes and yards, with flats and offices above and opportunities for hotels and leisure use.

-Replacing the Telephone Exchange and Jobcentre buildings with commercial space on the lower floors and flats above.

-'Revitalising' the market hall and reconnecting it with Market Place.

-'Street greening' and tree planting.

-Demolition of the bus station and multi-storey car park; pushing parking and bus termination out of the town centre.

-Having all buses pass through the town centre.

The proposed changes would work in tandem with schemes elsewhere in Kendal. A key principle of the Vision document is the idea of creating a ‘public transport hub’ at Kendal Station which would feature bus and electric bicycle services.

Other proposed improvements to the station and surrounding areas include:

-Linking Beezon Road with Mintsfeet Road by creating a level crossing over the railway to connect the north of Kendal with the centre.

-A student accommodation quarter adjacent to Kendal College's Arts and Media Campus on Beezon Road.

-A new forecourt at the train station with electric bikes for hire and 'pedestrian-friendly' links to Wildman Street and the town centre.

-A parking hub adjacent to the station for visitors and commuters.

-Flats and maisonettes overlooking the cricket ground.

-A 'landmark' station building which 'marks' the entrance to Kendal.

Another key focus of the Vision is the Hallgarth Estate, with ‘challenges’ identified including its more isolated location combined with poor public transport links, a ‘degraded’ play area, and unrestricted parking meaning cars ‘dominate’ the landscape.

Improvements to the area proposed by the document include a new ‘station halt’ for trains - situated adjacent to the estate and incorporating an electric bike rental station - an upgrade of the play area and community centre, and dedicated footpaths leading to bus stops and amenities.

An SLDC spokesman said both the Vision and the Town Centre Strategy would help to inform the council’s next local plan, with consultation on this to begin this month.

Copies of the documents can be viewed at the SLDC reception or can be requested by emailing econ.dev@southlakeland.gov.uk.

Martyn Nicholson, chairman of Kendal Futures, said: “Kendal is a great town, but like many towns we face challenges and we need new ideas and more innovative ways of delivering and funding those ideas to ensure our future success. The Vision is just the start and we will welcome the continuing support of other groups and the community to help bring those ideas into reality in the future.”