£450 million Borderlands Growth Deal now underway
UK Government joins partners to sign-off on huge deal that spans Northern England and Southern Scotland.
The Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal was formally signed today, 18 March 2021, bringing up to £452 million of fresh investment to the Borderlands area. Ministers of the UK and Scottish governments and representatives of the five councils of the Borderlands Partnership signed the deal at a virtual ceremony.
The deal covers the largest geographical area of any regional growth deal negotiated with the UK and Scottish Governments and is the first cross-border deal. The regional partnership is made up of Carlisle City Council, Cumbria County Council, Dumfries and Galloway Council, Northumberland County Council and Scottish Borders Council.
The projects supported by the deal will reach all parts of the Borderlands area, driving inclusive growth and delivering significant and lasting benefits for the one million people who live in the region.
The deal is focused on increasing productivity, growing the working age population, and delivering a more inclusive economy. It aims to create up to 5,500 jobs and provide a £1.1billion GVA boost to the region’s economy over 10-15 years.
UK Government’s Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, Rt Hon Robert Jenrick MP, said:
The Borderlands Growth Deal will realise a new era of regeneration and opportunity as we build back better from the pandemic.
The Ad Gefrin Visitor Experience and Distillery, and the Carlisle Station regeneration project are just two examples of schemes already benefitting from the Deal which will create jobs and improve regional connectivity.
We’re levelling up across the UK by investing in jobs, driving economic growth, and strengthening our cross-border links.
UK Government Minister for Scotland, Iain Stewart MP, said:
The benefits of the UK Government’s £265 million investment in the deal will be felt by communities across the whole of the Borderlands region and beyond.
Exciting projects like the Mountain Bike Innovation Centre and a Dairy Innovation Centre in Dumfries, Dairy Nexus, will build on regional strengths to create jobs and prosperity, while improvements to digital and transport infrastructure will ensure that we build back better from the pandemic.
Across Scotland and the Borderlands we have committed more than £1.7 billion to City Region and Growth Deals.
The deal will deliver across four themes: improving places; enabling infrastructure; encouraging green growth; and supporting innovation, business and skills. Some of the projects set to be delivered by the deal include:
redevelopment of Carlisle Station and the surrounding area, to act as a gateway to the region
work to assess the benefits and challenges of extending the Edinburgh – Tweedbank Borders Railway to Carlisle
a new Berwick Theatre
development of a Mountain Biking Innovation Centre in the Scottish Borders
development of Chapelcross in Dumfries and Galloway, as the region’s clean growth strategic investment site for low carbon energy generation and energy efficient businesses
improvements in digital and mobile connectivity across the region
investments in towns, tourism and business infrastructure, to position the Borderlands as an even more vibrant and attractive place to live and visit
Delivery has already started on some of the projects, following the release of early funding by the UK Government. This includes:
top-up funding for a Digital Voucher scheme supporting businesses and private customers to install high speed broadband
funding for the development of the Borderlands Energy Masterplan
£5 million towards the building of Lilidorei, a large-scale new play village to enhance the visitor offer at the Alnwick Gardens
work to redevelop Carlisle Station
a £3 million investment towards the Ad Gefrin Visitor Experience and Distillery in Northumberland
The Borderlands Growth Deal: Full Deal Document sets out further details on the projects.