Pirelli has been given the go-ahead to expand its Carlisle factory, in a move the firm says will secure almost 4,000 jobs.

The tyre manufacturer is set to add a new extension to the plant at Dalston Road, which will be used to "cure" tyres - a process which gives the product its final shape - produced there.

This news comes after politicians expressed fears over the company's commitment to Cumbria following the Brexit vote, with former MP Eric Martlew claiming it would close "within five years".

The application - which has been approved by Carlisle City Council - was for a single storey building on the site measuring 80m (262.5ft) long and 28m (91.9ft) wide.

Documents prepared by the firm's architects said this development will make "little change" to life at the factory and surrounding area.

These state: "No increase in noise levels are expected as machinery will be similar to existing, albeit a few metres closer to residents. The factory will continue to operate the same working pattern, based on shifts, 24 hours per day and up to 354 days per year."

They also say the company will continue to monitor the impact the plant has on the local environment that there should be no major impact on traffic in the area.

"While there may be a small increase in direct jobs, the main impact of the projects will be to secure the circa 850 existing jobs and around 3,000 supplier jobs," they add.

Pirelli's Carlisle plant is one of two the Chinese-owned firm has in the UK, the other is in Burton-on-Trent.

It opened in 1969 and its tyres are supplied to Jaguar/Land Rover, Volkswagen/Audi, Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Volvo and Maserati.

A spokesman for Pirelli said: “We can confirm that planning approval has been received and it represents a normal factory optimisation activity for our production area. However, timings are yet to be defined.”

News of the extension has been welcomed in Carlisle.

The city's MP John Stevenson said: "This is very important news with the addition of some new jobs but more important is it secures the long-term future future of Pirelli and follows on from the investment at McVitie's and I think it demonstrates confidence in the wider Carlisle economy."


Rob Johnston Rob Johnston , the chief executive of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce , said worries over Brexit had been "pure local speculation" and added: "Companies do not tend to invest in a plant when they are thinking of going on in a reasonable period of time."

Mr Martlew welcomed the news but still had some worries over the effects of Brexit.

"It is good news locally but the big concern is if we have a hard Brexit are there going to be tariffs on tyres from the UK being sold in Europe," he said.