Kingmoor’s 1.2m sq ft expansion approved

Kingmoor Park Properties has secured planning permission to develop on more than 90 acres of greenfield land at the industrial estate of the same name in Carlisle.

The latest phase of the 400-acre development off junction 44 of the M6 will be named Brunthill Estate.

Manchester-based HOW Planning led the team of master-planners for the new 1.2m sq ft scheme which has been allocated B1, B2 and B8 usage.

KPPL acquired the 90 acres in 2003, four years after the company acquired the 310-acre core site.

The former Ministry of Defence site is now home to companies such as Capita Symonds, Edinburgh Woollen Mill, GeoPost and DHL.

The granting of planning permission coincides with the construction of the Carlisle Northern Development Route, a new road through the middle of Kingmoor Park alongside the new estate linking with the motorway.

Tony Goddard, chief executive of Kingmoor Park Properties, said:"In the current recessionary climate we are delighted to maintain a good level of quality enquiries some of which are for much larger developments which will complement our existing tenants. Given the size of Kingmoor Park we have the opportunity to be inventive and forward thinking in our plans to maximise the potential of the site, particularly with the addition of the CNDR which will make our motorway access second to none.

"We already have planning permission for another major scheme called the "Hub" which will see the development of a whole range of destination type uses including a hotel, food outlets, leisure opportunities and a bus interchange. Our next focus, apart from the development of these multi million pound projects, is to explore the various options for green energy solutions for our site and we are already exploring the opportunity for a combined heat and power solution."

Gary Halman, partner at HOW Planning, said: "The new relief road is a major advantage for Kingmoor Park and the new Brunthill site. It will give what is already a hugely successful business location even more strategic significance in the North of England. We have been working with an extensive team including architects and our own in-house environmental consultants to put together an overall masterplan for the new development. We are confident that the scheme will prove to be beneficial for Carlisle, attracting new industry and employment opportunities to the town."