By Julian Whittle

Last updated at 15:03, Friday, 27 April 2012

The first tenants will move into 18 new apartments for the over-55s next week, built as part of the Penrith New Squares development.

Robin Hooper

Tenants have already been allocated to 15 of the apartments by the social housing landlord Riverside.

The keys are due to be handed over on Thursday and Friday.

Riverside recently placed tenants into 10 two-and-three bedroom homes at New Squares.

A further 19 apartments there should be ready later this year. Ten will be for rent and nine for sale on a shared-ownership basis.

New Squares is a major redevelopment of the area around Southend Road,Penrith, led by Sainsbury’s.

A 55,000sq ft Sainsbury’s supermarket opened in November, creating 250 jobs.

There is also a new multi-storey car park.

Twenty-two retail units, totalling 93,000sq ft, should be ready this autumn and, eventually, there will be 161 new homes – including some social housing managed by Riverside,

Dr Robin Hooper, Eden Council’s chief executive, said: “Penrith New Squares is Eden’s economic future.

“The increased number of shops means more people spend money in the district.

“The town centre development with its enhanced retail choice, multi-storey car park, new jobs and affordable homes would limit the threat from new out-of-towndevelopments for existing businesses.”

Eden council and Cumbria County Council are working on plans to improve pedestrian links between New Squares, the town centre and the Morrisons and Booths supermarkets to the north.

Signs designed to drawpeople into the town centre and encourage them to explore should go up in the autumn, and new branding has been drawn up with a logo and the slogan “Penrith – heart of Cumbria”.

Proposals for secure cycle parking in the town centre are well advanced.

Meanwhile, businesses will be balloted later this year on setting up a “business improvement district”.

This would create a company to enhance the town, paid for by a supplement on business rates.

First published at 14:07, Friday, 27 April 2012
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk