Green light for green route – Carlisle Southern Link Road

Map of proposed bypass

Following extensive public consultation and technical work the ‘green route’ has been selected as the preferred option for the new Carlisle Southern Link Road. The route was one of two options under consideration by Cumbria County Council.

The decision is based on a thorough assessment of evidence, including public and stakeholder feedback, environmental, engineering, and economic and deliverability assessments. This work identified a range of reasons for why the green route should be preferred:

  • The route better enables the delivery of the vision for St Cuthbert’s Garden Village

  • It had significantly higher level of public support in the recent public consultation

  • It is considered easier to build with less impact on existing communities

  • The route has a comparatively lower environmental impact

The council will now work with government officials to develop an Outline Business Case, which will be submitted to Government later this year for consideration for the delivery funding required to build the road.

Alongside Government money, funding will also be required from other sources, including developers, to contribute towards the costs of delivering the scheme.

Further public consultation on a final detailed route proposal would be undertaken in future, if funding is confirmed. The report from the public consultation earlier this year has also been published today