A Government minister has been in Carlisle today to find out more about the £452 million Borderlands Growth Deal.
Iain Stewart, minister for growth deals in Scotland, met representatives and was shown around Carlisle Railway Station by Stewart Young, leader of Cumbria County Council and John Mallinson, leader of Carlisle City Council.
The Borderlands Growth Deal includes a £20 million redevelopment of the station and the surrounding area, to act as a gateway to the region and a key transport hub with connections across the Borderlands, including preparations for the arrival of HS2 in the future.
Physical and digital connectivity are central to the deal, providing more opportunities for employment, to start a business or visit the area with the investment at Carlisle station and feasibility work for the Borders Rail extension to Carlisle, complementing the investment on improving digital access across the Borderlands.
Mr Stewart said: “The Scottish-English Borderlands region is home to many vibrant communities and innovative businesses with huge potential that the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, including UK Government investment of £265 million, will help to unlock, so the region can build back better from the pandemic.
“At the heart of the deal is a major boost to connectivity for southern Scotland and northern England which will bring significant benefits to the area, and I was very interested to see Carlisle station and hear about plans to transform it into a major travel hub connecting the entire UK to the Borderlands.
“Together with the proposed extension of the Borders rail line from Tweedbank to Carlisle and the UK Government’s Union Connectivity Review, to revitalise rail, road, sea and air links between all parts of the United Kingdom, these are exciting times for the Borderlands.”
Mr Young, who is also the Borderlands Partnership Board co-chair, said: “We were delighted to welcome the Minister of State for Scotland to the Borderlands region today.
“As a key transport hub, Carlisle was a great place to talk about how the deal will help better connect our region through improved transport links and better digital connections as well as improving connectivity within and outside of the Borderlands.”
Mr Mallinson added: “The Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal will provide crucial support to our region’s recovery from the COVID-19 emergency and ensure we set in place strong foundations on which to deliver inclusive and sustainable growth.
“Carlisle will benefit from multi-million-pound investment that will result in transformative schemes that will improve our infrastructure, transport links and connectivity.”
John Stevenson, MP for Carlisle, said: “I am delighted that the minister has visited Carlisle station and is seeing first-hand the start of the changes which the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal will bring to Carlisle and the surrounding area.
“This is a great example of central Government working with local Government to bring about real change. This is part of the levelling up agenda.”
Find out more about the plans for Carlisle Railway Station here
