PLANS to demolish part of Carlisle’s towering Civic Centre have been approved.

The rotunda on the side of the city council’s headquarters will be bulldozed as part of an ambitious redevelopment plan.

Its upper floor houses the council chamber, where the decision to approve the project was given the go-ahead by members of the development control committee yesterday.

The decision to flatten the rotunda, which is attached to the main 11-storey tower, in Rickergate, has been made as the council draws up best uses for the Civic Centre in the wake of it again being hit by flooding during Storm Desmond four years ago.

The ground floor of the building has been out of use ever since.

In December 2015, more than 4.72 million litres of water was pumped from the building, which was also one of the highest-profile casualties of the floods in 2005.

Since then, temporary buildings have been used to provide additional space.

Speaking after yesterday’s decision, council leader John Mallinson welcomed the move.

He said: “I’m very pleased the planning has gone through there was only one or two who opposed the plans.

“We’re now in a position to move forward, the rotunda is not user-friendly, it has been a long time coming.

“We can’t guarantee it won’t flood in the future, everything that will be on the lower levels will be able to move such as the tables and chairs.

“This was important, we needed to do things differently.”

The decision to go-ahead, followed a deferral on the move several months ago.

Revised plans that were considered included the creation of a civic square and an area to display public art where the building currently stands. The space will also create additional parking.

The redeveloped area will include the planting of evergreens and hedges to help improve the view when coming from the direction of Debenhams.

Councillor Nigel Christian noted how he was pleased to see the area “greened up”, adding: “I’m very pleased to see the revised scheme. I’m sorry to see the site lose the rotunda but it is past its use-by date now.

“I’m supporting the application and I’m pleased to see the area is being greened up, we need a lot more planting and a lot more green space in our cities and I think it is important from a climate change point of view.”

Councillor John Collier opposed the move and said: “I think this building should remain. It has fulfilled its purpose over many years. It is a purpose-built building and I think it should be retained.”

Councillor Anne Glendinning seconded the approval motion, saying: “I do understand people’s feelings about the building in some ways, but we have to move on. Its historic value is low.”