In autumn 2019, JTP and landscape architects, Farrer Huxley, led a community participation process to co-create an ambitious new Vision for Kendal on behalf of Kendal Futures Community Interest Company (CIC). The resulting Vision document was published in March 2020, alongside a new town centre strategy, and contains a range of exciting projects with the potential to deliver:

– the redevelopment of over twenty hectares of under-utilised land and buildings in Kendal

– 400 new homes and the upgrading/repurposing of existing buildings to provide over 1,000 more energy efficient, affordable town centre houses

– over five hectares of new and enhanced employment space, and

– ten hectares of improved habitat, recreation space and public realm in and around Kendal town centre.

Earmarked areas for enhancement include Kendal Station Gateway, Market Hall, Market Place and the Westmorland Shopping Centre, Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Canal Head and the Riverside Corridor.

SLDC recently approved £531,294 of core support over the next three years to Kendal Futures CIC, to deliver activities identified in the Kendal Vision and Kendal Town Centre Strategy. This includes funding over three years to Kendal Futures for the role of Vision Manager – a role which Nick Taylor, former Renaissance Manager at Scarborough Borough Council, has now been appointed to.

“The people and businesses of Kendal showed real passion and commitment for their town in co-creating the aspirational Vision for Kendal. It is gratifying to see these funds targeted in a way that will help push the identified projects forward, whilst continuing to engage the local community in the process.”