Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership has launched a far-reaching plan to improve the area’s transport and communications networks and help accelerate economic growth.
The Cumbria Infrastructure Plan states that improvements to the county’s road, rail, air and sea port links, together with better communications connectivity, are essential to support businesses and stimulate the local economy.
It aims to maximise the benefits to the county of the large scale projects planned in Cumbria over the next 15 years, such as the Moorside nuclear new build, the BAE Systems ‘Successor’ programme and the decommissioning activity at Sellafield.
Graham Haywood, director of Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The county is facing unprecedented levels of investment and growth over the next 15 years, with over £25bn of investment planned across Cumbria.
“Many of these investment projects are critical to the future prosperity of the UK and will deliver economic, energy and defence policy objectives at the national and local level.
“These and other projects have the potential to create over 30,000 additional jobs and an additional £1.3bn of economic output per year by 2030.
“However, maximising this growth opportunity requires significant investment in our transport and communications networks. We therefore need to plan strategically and prioritise our collective resources.
“All of the recommendations we are making are essential to improving access to markets, travel to work, movement of freight and goods, and supply chain development.They will play a crucial role in boosting economic growth by attracting visitors, workers and investment to the county.”
• Cumbrian Coastal Railway enhancements
• A595 corridor enhancements
• Flood resilience and mitigation
• Connecting Cumbria Phase 3: 4G and broadband connectivity
• Port of Workington improvements Important short-term priorities
• Carlisle Station and surrounding area
• Carlisle Airport enhancements
• Port of Barrow improvements
• Rail station improvements
• Town centre transport improvements
• Optimising connectivity
• Carlisle southern link road
• A590 road enhancements
• A66 road enhancements
• Ulverston bypass
• Whitehaven relief route
The transport proposals in the Cumbria Infrastructure Plan aim to allow the efficient and sustainable movement of people, goods, materials and plant, improving journey speeds, capacity and reliability.
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The plan also stresses that flood risk and resilience are important considerations and need to be taken into account in any infrastructure developments.
And it identifies key funding sources to take these priorities forward, including a potential Devolution Deal for Cumbria, the Growth Deal, the Cumbria Infrastructure Fund, European Structural Investment Funds and contributions by developers.
The plan was developed by Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership after extensive consultation with local authorities, organisations responsible for managing and maintaining the county’s infrastructure, key large businesses and smaller businesses through representative organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce.
Allied to the plan, a study of Cumbria’s major roads has identified 38 priority improvement schemes, which need to be carried out for the county to fulfil its economic potential.
The findings are part of the West of M6 Strategic Connectivity Study, which has been published by Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, and Highways England, after consultation with a wide range of local businesses, organisations and road users.
Mr Haywood added: “It builds on our Infrastructure Plan and clearly sets out the improvements that will need to be made to key points in the road infrastructure to accommodate the economic growth that the county will experience over the next 15 years.”
Potential short-term projects include the Port of Workington Access Bridge, improvements to the A590 junctions in Ulverston and Swarthmoor, Newby Bridge flood alleviation and A66 Brigham – Broughton safety improvements.
Medium-term projects include a dual carriageway on the A590 between Greenodd and Ulverston, improvements to the A595 at Beckermet / Moorside/ Sellafield, and bypasses at Calder Bridge and Grizebeck.
Long-term projects include the A595 Carlisle Southern Link Road, the Port of Workington to A66 New Link Road, an Ulverston southern bypass connecting with the A590 near Swarthmoor, plus a bypass for Whitehaven.
The study estimated that road traffic on the county’s major roads would increase by approximately 20 per cent by 2030.
Among the study’s other findings was that the busiest section of road west of the M6 is the A590 from the M6 to Barrow.
The study will be used as evidence to support bids for funding for road improvements from government, including the Highways England National Road Investment Strategy in 2019. It will also be used to highlight to large companies the advantages of making financial contributions to the cost of improving local roads.
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