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City backs business improvement district set up

Gemma SherlockNorth East and Cumbria
Cumberland Council An aerial image of Market Square in Carlisle. It is surrounded by buildings, has a statue and a war memorial, trees and benches.Cumberland Council
Businesses who have voted will now pay a levy to fund the BID for the next five years

A city has approved plans for a business improvement district (BID) which will operate for five years in a effort to boost tourism and the local economy.

In a recent ballot, 128 businesses backed the creation of the Carlisle BID.

Cumberland Council, which ran the month-long vote, said the organisation - which must be voted and paid for by local businesses - will be active in the city between 1 February 2026 and 31 January 2031.

The Great Border City group, made up of business owners who previously backed the plans, welcomed the result.

Kevin Beaty, the steering group's co-director, previously told the BBC that marketing the city would help attract "people to come and live and work here" and make it a "better place".

The BID area will cover the following wards:

  • Belah
  • Stanwix Urban
  • Botcherby
  • Harraby North
  • Harraby South
  • Upperby
  • Currock
  • Denton Holme
  • Castle
  • Morton
  • Yewdale
  • Belle Vue

It will also incorporate parts of the Houghton and Irthington, Wetheral and Dalston and Burgh wards that lie closest to the urban area.

Companies with a business rate of at least £15,000 will be charged 1.5% of their rate to fund the BID.

The levy collected is to be used on activities focused on delivering events, tourism campaigns and supporting businesses.

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