Today Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet has agreed to enter in to a new and important funding agreement with Homes England to deliver the new Carlisle Southern Link Road.
The funding agreement is a major milestone and is worth in excess of £134million and secures the final funding arrangement required to secure the delivery of the new Carlisle Southern Link Road.
The project had a shortfall but after months of lobbying Government Ministers and the Chancellor, John Stevenson MP is delighted that Government has committed the money to fill this shortfall.
John Stevenson MP said: “Completing the ring road will hugely benefit and improve infrastructure in and around Carlisle. Over a year ago, Government announced £102 million towards the project which was welcomed by residents and businesses alike. Given the scale of the project, there was a shortfall to enable the completion of the ring road in its entirety; which would transform travel to and from Carlisle, especially for those based on the West of the city.
“I have spent months speaking to Ministers and after a number of meetings with Treasury, I am delighted that the Chancellor has agreed to cover the shortfall which will allow the ring road around Carlisle to be started and completed as intended.”
The road will play a vital role in supporting the economic recovery of Carlisle and Cumbria following COVID-19 and it is key to the successful delivery of growth projects and initiatives such as the St.Cuthberts Garden Village, a scheme led by Carlisle City Council that will deliver 10,000 new homes and employment opportunities within Carlisle, bringing significant benefits to the city and the wider county. The delivery of the new road will also improve east – west connectivity to the south of the city, in particular improving road connections to West Cumbria.
The signing of this new funding agreement is the most important milestone so far, in delivering the Carlisle Southern Link Road as it formally secures the final allocation of the funding required. Now that the County Council cabinet has agreed to enter the funding agreement, the agreement will be signed before the end of the month as a ‘tripartite’ agreement between Homes England (on behalf of MHCLG), Cumbria County Council and Carlisle City Council.
As part of the agreement, the county council would be responsible for building the road. The separate funding agreements means both Cumbria County Council and Carlisle City Council will both contribute £5m towards the project, which they hope to recoup during the development.
The financial details of this agreement are currently commercially sensitive as tenders will soon be made public inviting contractors to tender for the work.
Commenting on today’s decision Stewart Young Leader of Cumbria County Council said: “This is a key decision today and brings us one step closer towards creating this new strategic road that will provide significant benefits. It is key to helping unlock economic growth and investment at a time when our county needs it the most. It will help create jobs, attract businesses to invest and is key to providing both housing and economic growth.”
Cllr Keith Little, Cumbria County Council Cabinet member for Highways added: “The decision from Cabinet was unanimous and shows the total commitment from the Council to building this road and to improving our highways infrastructure in the county. This road is vital to not only the garden village project but to the wider economic benefits it brings to our county.”
It is anticipated that construction work will commence on site in 2022 and will be completed in 2024.
To read more about the CSLR please go to www.cumbria.gov.uk/cslr
For more information about St Cuthbert’s Garden Village go to www.stcuthbertsgv.co.uk
