Corporate Housing in Kendal

Learn about the top employers in Kendal and their contributions to the local economy. This section highlights key businesses and organisations that play a significant role in the community and shape the city's vibrant economic landscape.

Westmorland General Hospital (part of University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust)
A district general hospital in Kendal providing acute, emergency and community NHS services across the Morecambe Bay area. As the principal local hospital it is one of the town’s largest employers, with a wide range of clinical and support staff.

Westmorland and Furness Council
The unitary local authority (created in 2023) serving the Westmorland and Furness area of Cumbria, with principal offices and a major administrative presence in Kendal. The council delivers local government services (planning, social care, waste, etc.) and is a significant public-sector employer in the town.

James Cropper plc
An international specialty paper, fibre and materials manufacturer based in nearby Burneside, just north of Kendal. The company produces security papers, bespoke colour papers and advanced fibre-based products for global markets and is a major employer in the Kendal area.

Kendal College
The further education college serving Kendal and South Lakeland, offering vocational courses, apprenticeships and some higher-education programmes. The college employs teaching, administrative and support staff and is an important local employer and training provider.

Lakeland (Lakeland Limited)
A UK kitchenware and homewares retailer founded in Kendal, now operating from the Lake District area (head office/warehousing in the South Lakeland region). Lakeland is a well-known regional employer through its retail, distribution and corporate operations serving customers nationwide.

If you’d like, I can provide estimated employee counts, addresses, or recent local employment figures (where available).

Explore the diverse transport options available in Kendal, from efficient public transportation systems to convenient road networks. Whether you're commuting to work or exploring the city, this section will give you an overall look at the available transportation systems.

Public Transit System
- Bus services (Stagecoach & local operators) - Regular local and regional bus services operate from Kendal town centre and the bus station, linking Kendal with nearby towns and tourist destinations such as Windermere, Ambleside, Keswick, Barrow-in-Furness, Lancaster and Ulverston; frequencies vary by route and season.
- Rail connections (nearest stations: Oxenholme Lake District & Windermere branch) - Kendal does not have a mainline station in the town centre; the nearest mainline station is Oxenholme Lake District (around 4 miles / ~6 km away) on the West Coast Main Line with long-distance services, and the Windermere branch provides local trains to/from Oxenholme that connect onward to Kendal by bus or taxi.
- Coach services (National Express & intercity coaches) - National Express and other coach operators provide scheduled coach links to larger cities and long-distance destinations; services are less frequent than buses and are typically aimed at longer journeys.
- Community transport and dial‑a‑ride - Voluntary/community transport schemes and demand‑responsive minibuses provide door‑to‑door and flexible services for elderly, disabled passengers and areas with limited scheduled services.
- Taxis and private-hire (local firms & app-based options) - Local taxi and private-hire companies operate in Kendal, providing flexible point-to-point travel, station transfers (Oxenholme/Windermere) and airport transfers.

Major Highways
- M6 - The primary north–south motorway serving the region; Kendal is easily accessed from nearby M6 junctions (e.g., Junction 36), providing routes north toward Carlisle/Scotland and south toward Lancaster/Manchester/Liverpool.
- A6 - Historic major road running through Kendal that links the town northwards toward Penrith/Carlisle and southwards toward Lancaster; key for local and regional road movements.
- A591 - Primary scenic route from Kendal to Windermere, Ambleside and on to Keswick, important for tourism and local traffic into the Lake District.
- A65 - East–west route terminating in Kendal that connects the town to areas toward Skipton and the Yorkshire Dales (useful for freight and cross‑Pennine traffic).
- A590 - Major east–west trunk route to the Furness peninsula and Barrow-in-Furness (accessible via connecting roads and the M6), important for access to coastal industrial areas.

Cycling Infrastructure
- Cycle lanes, shared‑use paths and routes - Kendal has a mix of on‑road cycle lanes, off‑road shared-use paths and signed local cycle routes linking residential areas to the town centre and parks; there are also connections to regional and recreational routes used by leisure cyclists, plus cycle parking in key town centre locations.

Recent and Upcoming Improvements
- Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) and funding-led upgrades - Local and regional authorities have been using national BSIP and similar funding to improve bus frequencies, upgrade shelters and real‑time information, and trial route improvements aimed at better connectivity for Kendal.
- Active travel and cycling investments - Recent and planned spending has targeted active travel: improved pedestrian crossings, expanded and better-signed cycle routes, and more secure cycle parking to encourage walking and cycling for short trips.
- Rail interchange and service resilience measures - Continued focus on improving connections between Kendal and Oxenholme Lake District station (better bus/taxi links and information) and ongoing timetable and rolling-stock updates on the Windermere branch to strengthen rail connectivity.
- M6 and highway maintenance / junction improvements - Periodic maintenance and targeted junction improvements on the M6 corridor and A‑roads around Kendal have been carried out or planned to reduce congestion and improve resilience on key commuter and freight routes.
- Town centre traffic management and accessibility schemes - Local council initiatives have included traffic flow reviews, pedestrian-first measures in parts of the town centre and parking management changes to improve safety, air quality and the experience for residents and visitors.
- Feasibility studies for larger schemes - Local authorities periodically commission feasibility work (for example, relief road options or improved park‑and‑ride provision) to identify longer-term capacity and environmental solutions, though major new road schemes typically require extensive consultation and funding decisions.