By Julian Whittle

Last updated at 07:56, Friday, 11 January 2013

The builder Construction Partnership UK (CPUK) has won contracts to build two major retail developments in Cumbria worth almost £6.5m.

The Lancashire firm is starting work on a £4.3m expansion of Castle Retail Park in Ullswater Road, Penrith, for The Welbeck Estates Company.

And it has been awarded a £2m contract to refurbish part of the St Nicholas’ Gate retail park in London Road, Carlisle, for clients of LaSalle Investment Management. The retail developments are CPUK’s first contracts in Cumbria as it expands outside its heartland of Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

CPUK is already on site building the 61,000 sq ft extension to Castle Retail Park, which will provide high-quality retail warehousing and 214 more parking spaces.

The scheme is due for completion in May next year.

The St Nicholas Gate revamp, in London Road in Carlisle, includes an extension to the existing retail development, better access, road and traffic improvements and increased car parking.

It also involves demolition of the Burger King restaurant there.

Steve Burke, CPUK’s managing director, says activity for the company is now returning to something like pre-recession levels – with retail developments proving particularly strong.

He said: “The retail sector is becoming an important part of our project pipeline and our experience in it goes back many years working for the likes of Peel Holdings and Starbucks.

“The key to new projects and to the refurbishment of existing developments seems to be the securing of anchor tenants and we are seeing a number of ambitious retail park extensions getting the go-ahead as a result of this.

“Both Cumbrian projects are extensions to popular and successful retail developments. Our strong track record of delivery in this sector is holding us in good stead when it comes to winning work like this.

“We now have £20 million of work confirmed for the next 12 months, which is a return to pre-recession activity.”

CPUK is one of the North West’s most experienced construction operations.

Its retail expertise includes projects at Media City in Salford and the Trafford Centre.

First published at 07:44, Friday, 11 January 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk