Single occupant signs up for employment park capable of supporting 2,200 jobs

A global ecommerce operator has signed up for a site near Carlisle that could support more than 2,000 jobs.

Yorkshire property developer and investment company Strawsons Property confirmed the approach concering Harker View, and announced it has submitted a planning application for the development.

Located next to the M6 at junction 44, the Strawson vision is to create a new employment park featuring up to two million sq ft of logistics space, a state-of-the-art electric vehicle charging forecourt, as well as supporting service facilities, including a 75-bed hotel, a public house and drive-thrus.

Strawsons said Harker View will enable Carlisle to take advantage of some of the fastest growing sectors of the UK economy on a strategically important site next to the M6 and A7 and generate more than £145m in annual investment to Carlisle each year.

Approval of the scheme will also help respond to the pressures of climate change by helping to reduce energy consumption, enable more electric vehicles to be used for travel and that have all the facilities people will need to work and travel sustainably, on site, through careful design and planning.

A spokesperson for Strawsons Property, said: “Our plans have moved on since consulting with the local community in 2020 and we are delighted to announce that a global ecommerce operator has signed up to take over the majority of the 110-acre site.

“Harker View is a unique opportunity to bring a modern, sustainable logistics hub to Carlisle that offers the potential for up to 2,235 full-time jobs for local people.”

They added: “We are thrilled to have confirmed a single occupier for Harker View and to have submitted our planning application. We now look forward to working with Carlisle City Council to help deliver this significant investment.”