Plans Approved To Widen Parking Spaces At Kendal's Westmorland Shopping Centre
Plans to widen parking spaces at Kendal's Westmorland Shopping Centre will improve accessibility while reducing the overall number of available bays.
Westmorland and Furness Council will begin a relining project in September to increase standard parking bay widths from 2.4 metres to 2.6 metres. Some bays located between structural pillars will be widened to more than three metres where space allows, responding to long standing customer concerns about narrow parking spaces.
The project will result in fewer parking spaces overall, but the council says the redesigned layout will provide a safer and more practical experience for motorists using today's larger vehicles. The work will be carried out on a floor by floor basis, with only the affected levels temporarily closed during construction.
The improvements follow the recent installation of energy efficient LED lighting throughout the multi storey car park, part of the council's wider investment in maintaining and modernising the ageing facility.
To offset the loss of parking spaces, the council is reviewing its own parking arrangements to help release additional visitor parking within Kendal town centre. A broader parking study covering the town will also begin in August 2026, analysing current demand and future parking needs, with findings expected by March 2027.
Councillor Andrew Jarvis, Cabinet Member for Finance and Deputy Leader of Westmorland and Furness Council, said the existing car park was designed for a very different era of motoring and that widening the bays would make parking easier and less stressful for customers. He acknowledged the reduction in capacity but said the changes would make better use of the building's constraints while ensuring the facility remains fit for the future.
The council said further information about the relining schedule, temporary floor closures, and customer access arrangements will be published before work begins. The investment is intended to improve the overall visitor experience while supporting Kendal town centre for years to come.
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