Residents, businesses, and visitors are being invited to have their say on emerging design options to help further shape the vision for a transformational welcome to the Lake District.
Earlier this year, Westmorland and Furness Council appointed consultants Mott MacDonald to draw up a concept masterplan for the Windermere station area, part of the Windermere Gateway project.
The aim is to improve Windermere station, its surroundings and facilities to create a stronger, more welcoming arrival to the heart of the Lake District
Drop-in events have now been organised for Friday 3 July and Saturday 4 July, when we will share our initial thoughts and designs based on their preliminary findings and the feedback gathered at Windermere Gateway drop-in sessions held in September last year.
The July events will present three design options for the station area. These options explore different approaches to the station building, forecourt, public spaces, wayfinding, and the overall arrival experience. They also consider how the station area can better support active travel, buses, taxis, and onward travel, while responding sensitively to Windermere’s heritage, landscape, and local character.
Feedback from the events will help the project team understand the strengths and weaknesses of each option, identify which elements are most strongly supported, and inform the development of a preferred option for the station area. For those who can't attend in person, all the information and survey will be available online.
The options have been shaped by earlier community conversations, technical work, site analysis, and stakeholder input. The events will show how this feedback has informed the emerging designs and provide the community with a meaningful opportunity to influence emerging proposals before a preferred option is developed.
The final masterplan will be used as a key focus for securing investment for the proposed upgrades.
The community conversations will take place on:
Friday 3 July 2026 from 2pm to 7pm at the Marchesi Centre, Holly Road, Windermere LA23 2AF.
Saturday 4 July 2026 from 10am to 2pm at the same venue..
The sessions will be held as drop-in events across these hours. Attendees will be able to view the design options, speak with members of the project team and council, ask questions, and share their views.
Following the July engagement, the project team will carefully review all feedback received and use it to inform the development of a preferred option for the station area.
Anyone unable to attend the drop-ins will be able to view the materials and provide feedback online.
Further updates will be shared as the masterplan progresses.
A spokesperson for Westmorland and Furness Council said: "Working together, the partners are committed to all aspects of Windermere Gateway, and creating a world-class welcome for rail and bus passengers would boost the local transport infrastructure and enhance the experience of travelling for everybody who lives, works or visits this area.
"Local views are crucial to the development of this project and the session will give residents the opportunity to have their say on the work done so far and shape the final proposals."
This work will build on the Windermere Gateway Transport Infrastructure SPD (Supplementary Planning Document) adopted by the Lake District National Park Authority in 2021 and be used as a key focus for securing investment for the proposed upgrades.
The vision for the station and surrounding area includes transforming it into a vibrant transport hub with better connections for walking, cycling, taxis, and buses, alongside public realm and wayfinding upgrades. The design work is an essential step towards being able to deliver the improvement and is being funded by around £150,000 from the council’s Local Transport Grant allocation.
The scheme is part of the Windermere Gateway project, which is jointly led by Westmorland and Furness Council, Lake District National Park Authority, National Trust and its developer Urban Splash, and seeks to ensure a strategic and co-ordinated approach to transport, travel and movement infrastructure provision within the Windermere Gateway area. Its long-term vision is to unlock opportunities for a mix of new, much-needed homes, jobs, sustainable transport connections and a much-improved welcome for residents and visitors alike.
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