Major projects 'essential' for Carlisle's growth says Julie Minns

Speaking at the Campaign for Borders Rail conference at Tullie House, Ms Minns said that the project was ‘key’ to delivering economic growth in Cumbria.

The Citadels project will see the University of Cumbria build a new campus in the historic heart of the city centre with a specialised medical school moving into the Fusehill campus.

The university had originally pledged to give £23.5million to the £77million Borderlands Partnership project but has since requested to pay £15.5million and have asked that the £8million shortfall to be covered by the Borderlands.

In a report sent to the Borderlands Partnership, the university said it is suffering with “intense inflationary pressures, increasing employer pension contributions and increased utility costs” which have all contributed to the request.

The university cited that tuition fees have remained at £9,250 since 2017 and haven’t increased with inflation, representing a ‘significant’ reduction in value.

Speaking to The Cumberland News, Ms Minns said that the project was ‘key’ to the regeneration of Carlisle.

“The project will be amazing for the city,” she said.

“I’ve said very clearly, we have to deliver that university project. It all comes back to economic growth, and it will bring more people into the city to work and study to help to drive our local economy.”

Ms Minns also gave her backing to a feasibility study on the reintroduction of the Border railway from Edinburgh to Carlisle through the Scottish Borders saying that a new railway would be a ‘boost’ for the region.

“The line would help to bring a working age population beyond the immediate commuter belt in Carlisle,” said Ms Minns.

“A lot of businesses say that we need more people to do a variety of jobs and we've seen that, with the extension of the line between Edinburgh and Tweedbank, it has very much become a commuter line.

"So having that sort of commuter line would bring people into Carlisle for the work opportunities that we already have, and we want to have more of.

“Our bus services are not what they could be or should be so having a rail service that's able to bring people in to access our shops and our restaurants and businesses would be a huge plus for the local economy.”

£10million had been allocated jointly from the Scottish Government and Westminster in April 2023 for a feasibility study into extending the Borders Railway but Labour has since put the study on hold whilst they undertake their ‘capital investment review’.

Labour have put the brakes on a number of large-scale transport infrastructure projects since winning the election in July, which the party says will help fix the ‘dire’ state of the public finances it claims was left by the Conservatives.

“The difference between us and the Conservatives both in government and in opposition is we've never shied away from saying that there are difficult decisions that have to be taken, and you only get to enjoy the benefit if you're prepared to make those difficult decisions,” said Ms Minns.

“If we can take the steps now to repair the financial fabric of our country, then we're in a much better position in a year or so to build on that and get the growth.

“But if we don't, and if we repeat the mistakes of the last Conservative government then we're never going make any progress at all – we need some serious grown-up politics.”

The government’s capital infrastructure review is due to end in 2025.