The Partnership's Plan - Lake District National Park

• Identify, develop and initiate innovative area-focused visions, objectives and action plans for
land management in the Lake District, which are responsive to the differing needs, pressures
and opportunities of the landscape, historic environment and local communities.
• Support existing and new forms of collaborative working among agencies and farmers and
land managers; and support community-driven action towards sustainable farming and
land-management in the Lakes.
Cumbria County Council will begin a Local Economic Assessment with partners. This should link
into the allocation of land for employment and housing within the Local Development Framework.
Recent successes include:
Blencathra Business Centre is an attractively located development designed to provide light
industrial units for new and existing small businesses. It offers a range of office support services for
clients and free business counselling and advice.
Staveley Mill Yard in the south of the National Park is an acknowledged best practice example of
broadening the economic base.
3.2.3 Opportunities
Strong economic opportunities are essential to community sustainability. Farming, forestry and
tourism dominate local employment with associated businesses such as retail and food and drink.
We depend on the distribution, hotel and restaurant sector. Almost half of all our economic activity is
directly or indirectly linked to tourism. Agriculture holds the key to managing much of the land but
only employs eight per cent of the workforce, and is a much less important source of income.
However, there is incalculable value from the management of land as a backdrop for other business
sectors and equally untapped potential through delivery new priorities such as carbon
reduction/sequestration.
Cultural industries associated with the special qualities of the National Park are recognised
increasingly. In Keswick the theatre is the largest employer. As technology and communication
improves, for example, broadband connection, the barriers to business location break down.
Additional growth in high value economic sectors such as information and communication
technology and financial services will increase employment and incomes. But they need high quality
accommodation. The National Park must establish a modern commercial face.
High levels of entrepreneurship and home working create the potential to grow high technology, high
skill businesses. Home working will be facilitated through competitive comprehensive broadband
connections. Businesses could grow significantly while reducing their impact from commuting.
Opportunities such as Britain’s Energy Coast, integrated with the National Park-based green and
renewable technologies, link the economy with the environment. Equipping the workforce with the
skills employers need will be important to future growth. Business support will increase productivity
and competitiveness.
During 2009, partners conducted extensive research into current and future skills requirements
across Cumbria, including the National Park. This work looks five, ten and twenty years ahead
based on current intelligence and the aspirational scenario envisaged where the whole economy of
Cumbria grows on the back of new opportunities in the energy sector, sustainable construction and
tourism amongst others. Within this work, the role of traditional skills is recognised to support the
increasing demands on the both the built environment and our outstanding natural environment.
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