Many of the strengths of Carlisle are closely linked to its location. The City is a transport hub of national significance due to its location on the M6 corridor and east-west routes to Tyneside, SW Scotland and West Cumbria. Carlisle is extremely well connected and as such transport and storage is a key sector with a much higher representation of these sectors compared to benchmark cities and national averages. Employment performance has been particularly good in this sector, with 4,407 people employed in this sector in 2013 in 200 separate enterprises (ONS 2013).
There has been recent investment in physical transport links most notably in completion of the Carlisle Northern Development Route (CNDR) which links the M6 to the A595 to the west of the city. The major routes that radiate northwards from Carlisle cut across the Anglo-Scottish Border (M74 to Glasgow, A75 to Stranraer, A7 to Edinburgh via Scottish Borders).
Rail links are also critical for Carlisle on the West Coast Main Line (WCML). This provides Carlisle with significant locational advantage as a key regional hub on the UK’s rail network. The city is also an important hub for rail connections east west through to West Cumbria, South-West Scotland, Newcastle and Leeds via Settle.
This is a sector where growth is expected.