City backs business improvement district set up

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.