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Sites and Premises

Support development of new employment areas and premises in areas of demand

A photo outside of Carlisle Citadel

The provision of suitable sites and premises for business is an important precondition of economic growth. Around 20% of 1,700 businesses responding to the 2015/16 business survey identified "availability of suitable alternative business premises" as a potential barrier to growth, rising to 29% of "grower" businesses.

Across much of Cumbria there is at present a reasonable supply of land for business development and, in quantitative terms at least, of business premises.

Cumbria benefits from Kingmoor Park Enterprise Zone to the north of Carlisle covering a large employment and development area. We have other major employment locations potentially available for major expansion or inward investment, including several that have benefitted from past investment, at:

  • Lillyhall Industrial Estate and Westlakes Science Park in West Cumbria
  • The new Barrow Waterfront Business Park that has been open up by LEP investment in site remediation and access
  • Solway 45 at Longtown near Carlisle with the potential for major development
  • The redevelopment of part of the GSK site in Ulverston for new business opportunities
  • A range of other potential areas for employment already identified in Local Plans.

Arial shot of Kingmoor Park

At present, although there are local assessment of business premises and sites needs there is a lack of a comprehensive picture across the county. As part of the sites and premises assessment, Cumbria LEP will commission new research into employment land and premises need, with the opportunities and challenges identified very much a driver for the research. This priority links closely to the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal business infrastructure programme (aimed at providing a better portfolio of business accommodation to attract and retain growing businesses and raise productivity levels).

Arial shot of Barrow Waterfront

CASE STUDY: Barrow Waterfront

A Local Growth Fund allocation of £7.2 million has funded site reclamation and improvement work to transform derelict land into a business park for employment and advanced manufacturing growth.

The first development is underway, supported by a grant from the European Regional Development Fund, a good example of utilising Growth Deal support to attract investment from another key funding source.

Works include site clearance and levelling, decontamination, removal of industrial debris, provision of utilities, landscaping and raised earthworks for flood protection measures. During 2019/20, CLEP forecasts that there will be around 12,600 m2 of further development.

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