We're working with local people to shape the future of Penrith Town Hall, an iconic Grade II listed building in the heart of Penrith.
We plan to revitalise the venue, preserve its history, and use it as a thriving space for:
- community
- culture
- heritage
- creativity
- enterprise
Your feedback will help shape a business case and the final design options. Any work will reflect your views and use funding to the best advantage.
We have secured £3 million from the Government’s Levelling Up funding and a further £500,000 ring-fenced from the Borderlands Place Programme, which could be used for the project.
Have your say
We want to hear from as many people as possible, including young people, older residents, and underrepresented groups.
The consultation will close on 10 October 2025.
You can get paper copies from:
- Penrith Leisure Centre
- Penrith Library
- Eden Foyer
- Appleby Tourist Information Centre
- Kirkby Stephen Library
- Alston Library
- Penrith Family Hub
Come along and share your ideas for Penrith Town Hall
Our teams will be visiting and taking part in a range of groups and activities. We'll also be in attendance at the following events:
Saturday 27 September
Drop into the Shepherds Hut to have your say and try out the onsite DJ skills workshops.
Time: 10am to 2pm
Location: Penrith Leisure Centre, Southend Road, Penrith, CA11 8JH
Monday 29 September
Yoko the visual artist will be joining the Talkin' Tables group in Booths for a creative chat.
Time: 10.30am to 11.30am
Location: Booths, Westgate House, Brunswick Road, Penrith, CA11 7JU
Saturday 4 October
Chat with the illustrator Mollie Ray, who'll visualise your ideas for Penrith Town Hall through comic art.
Time: 10am to 3pm
Location: outside Penrith Leisure Centre, Southend Road, Penrith, CA11 8JH
Achieving the funding
In 2022, the former Eden District Council submitted a bid to the Levelling Up Fund, focused on the creation of a rural enterprise hub at Junction 41. The plan was to develop a mix of office, studio, workshop and collaborative space to support businesses, creatives and entrepreneurs across the Eden area.
When the Government announced in the Autumn Statement of November 2023 that funding would be awarded, circumstances had changed and the Junction 41 site was no longer available. To ensure Eden did not lose this significant investment, the council entered urgent discussions with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) about redirecting the grant to alternative projects that could still deliver the original ambitions.
MHCLG agreed that this could happen, but there was a limited timescale to put forward a new proposal. In that short timeframe, officers worked quickly to develop a revised scheme which secured £4.09 million for a new town centre enterprise hub, designed to deliver many of the original objectives, alongside £3 million for the creation of a community and creative hub at Penrith Town Hall.
An outline proposal was approved, with MHCLG recognising that it remained in line with the vision first set out in 2022.
Shaping the investment and future vision together
The outline for the Town Hall highlighted the opportunity to create a space for arts organisations, creative activity and community use, complementing the more business-focused offer of the enterprise hub. From the beginning, the council has made clear that the detail and final vision will be shaped in collaboration with the community. The aim is not to compete with or duplicate existing cultural work, but to create something that enhances and supports the sector.
This is a significant investment for Eden, secured through a process that required quick thinking and determination. The next steps will be taken together, ensuring that the final vision reflects the needs and aspirations of the whole community.
Contact us
If you’d like to know more, or need support accessing the survey or engagement events, please get in touch.