The UK’s leading timber business, BSW Timber, is reviewing the sawmilling operations of its Carlisle site, with a view to remodel it as a sawn timber processing and distribution hub.

BSW Timber has recently acquired additional land beside the sawmill and been granted planning permission for a railhead, allowing the site to enhance its distribution capabilities.

The railhead will allow the business to transport logs, sawn timber and co-products by rail, linking up with its Fort William site in the Scottish Highlands to reduce its reliance on trucks delivering material by road.

There is currently no in-land rail terminal between Glasgow and Manchester, meaning the installation of a railhead in Carlisle, around halfway in between, will also support other businesses and the local economy.

This proposal would see a change in the primary function of the Carlisle site – currently a sawmill – providing a renewed focus on secondary operations and value-added processing.

These developments will support manufacturing efficiencies, optimisations and investment across the wider UK business, as BSW Timber seeks to increase its total timber production output by 10% next year.

The proposed closure of the sawmilling operations at Carlisle unfortunately puts a number of related roles at potential risk of redundancy, with those concerned having been made aware.

We will do everything we can to support those involved as we enter a period of consultation, and will keep you updated accordingly.