BUSINESS park bosses have praised plans to help solidify Carlisle's position as a 'key strategic site' for the distribution sector as DPD doubles down on investment. 

Plans have been submitted to Cumberland Council for an exchange hub on the land between Kingmoor Park Central and North, Dukes Drive, Kingmoor Park North, allowing the parcel service to expand its onsite presence and ultimately bring more jobs to the area.

The hub will include various facilities such as a service yard, HGV parking, ancillary office space, ancillary car parking, and associated infrastructure.

Managing director Neil McIntyre, from Kingmoor Park Properties, has applied to the council for permission to demolish existing buildings and develop the site which covers an area of 102,194 square metres.

"It’s great to see DPD commit to a second development on site so soon after completion of their new parcel hub, ensuring the security and creation of jobs in the area for a long time to come," he said. 

The proposed exchange hub is intended to compliment the DPD distribution centre on the neighbouring plot, in which the externals are due to be completed in the coming weeks. 

The distribution centre is said to bring around 350 jobs, of which 160 jobs will come from the previous site, making up for between 180 to 190 new jobs, offering both line staff and driver positions. 

"The decision to be based on Kingmoor Park’s new K2 development site further enforces the story that Carlisle is a place to invest and alongside the many investment projects around the city shows that the growth is both happening and is sustainable.

"We look forward to officially launching our K2 development site in the coming months and promoting the opportunity that Carlisle offers to the rest of the UK and beyond as a key strategic site for logistics and manufacturing," he said. 

Back in 2020, online shopping giant Amazon opened a 7,000 sq ft delivery station on Woodlands Industrial Storage Estate in Longtown - bringing 20 permanent staff working with a network of 100 drivers as well as seasonal hiring.