Writing after securing more than £100m for Carlisle's new Southern Link Road, Northern Powerhouse Minister Jake Berry and Carlisle MP John Stevenson explain in their own words why this road is so significant for the area:

The Government’s investment of more than £100m to unlock 10,000 new homes in Carlisle is hugely significant for the city, north Cumbria and beyond.

The money will be spent on a new link road, connecting the south of Carlisle to the M6, and other infrastructure improvements which will open up the site of the St Cuthbert’s Garden Village.

We share Carlisle City Council’s ambitious plans to build up to 10,000 new high-quality homes in what would be the biggest new housing development in the north west.

The council joined the Government’s Garden Communities programme in 2016 and have since received over £800,000 funding to date to help develop their plans.

But we can’t build the homes Carlisle needs without delivering the infrastructure first which is why the Housing Infrastructure Fund is so important.

We are impressed by the case made by local leaders, which will bring this important project to build new, good quality homes and more thriving communities a step closer.

This investment is also further evidence of the Government’s commitment to improving the economy and livelihoods of people across Cumbria, the Northern Powerhouse and Borderlands.

The Borderlands is a unique cross-border collaboration between the local authorities of Carlisle City, Cumbria County, Dumfries and Galloway, Northumberland County and Scottish Borders to drive local growth.

We are both making strong arguments for a Borderlands growth deal in Westminster and are determined to make it a reality. We are making good progress.

Since the Government received proposals in September 2018, we have been working with local partners and the Scottish Government to ensure projects have maximum impact and represent good value for taxpayers’ money.

The Government is already investing more than £60m in Cumbria through local growth deals to create up to 4,000 jobs and generate up to £100m in public and private investment in the area.

The new link road will improve access to the region from England and Scotland and give businesses the confidence to invest in the area.

It underpins our vision of the Borderlands as a booming economic hub linking northern England and southern Scotland to create new business opportunities and jobs for people coast to coast across the region.

And it clearly demonstrates how co-operation between the Government, local MPs and councils around a shared goal can deliver results and empower the people of our regions to build a prosperous future.