There’s a massive imbalance. The scales of business and economy in Britain are permanently tilted to one side of the country. If you want to be successful, head for London – or at least within the M25 ring. As for the Midlands or the North, forget it.

The North-South divide in the country has never yawned so wide as it does now. But things now look set for a change.

Decades of laissez-faire and casual disregard for this imbalance by successive governments have been ended.

Almost a year ago, Chancellor George Osborne announced that he wanted to create a Northern Powerhouse to redress the North-South economic imbalance.

The aim was to attract investment into northern cities and towns to boost their manufacturing, science, technology and service sectors.

Money would be made available to improve and increase infrastructure and transport connections across the region.

It is a grand title for an optimistic scheme.

And almost a year on from Mr Osborne’s announcement, two thirds of northerners questioned in a BBC survey admitted they had never heard of the powerhouse.

Could it make a difference to Cumbria or will we have to fly on the coat tails of Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle?


Graham Haywood Graham Haywood thinks it will boost the county.

The director of Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) sees the powerhouse unlocking the money and the drive to improve roads and upgrade the Carlisle-Barrow rail line.

“The start of the scheme focussed on the cities, but there is real understanding now that the whole of the north is included,” he says.

“That is good because we need the government to recognise the contribution Cumbria can make.

“We have a lot to offer in terms of low carbon energy provision.

“The big thing we need is improved infrastructure and the government has already set up a transport for the north board.

“All our big infrastructure proposals need to be included in that plan. That is going to be our road to future funding for these projects.

“We have a clear timeline over the next 15 years for particular infrastructure needs.

“We want a complete upgrade of the coastal railway line. The Government is carrying out strategic studies to improve the A66 and A69, but we are also in the process of recruiting consultants to look into improving the A590 and A595.

The creation of the powerhouse project coincides with the creation of the Cumbria Deal which will offer the county more control over its finances and services and free it from Whitehall control.

The deal is currently being thrashed out with Government representatives and could provide the county with a fresh appeal to business at home and investors abroad.

Mr Haywood adds: “In terms of potential private sector investment of around £25bn over the next 10 years, it is the biggest amount of private sector investment envisaged.

“There are real opportunities across the county in different sectors to grow and improve the economy.”

James Wharton, Minister for Local Growth and the Northern Powerhouse, has said that the county has a crucial role to play in the nuclear sector, but also in other skilled areas.

He told The Cumberland News ahead of today’s visit: “Cumbria has a key part to play in building the Northern Powerhouse and rebalancing our economy.

“I look forward to meeting with local leaders to hear for myself the exciting plans they have to
support their economy even further.”

Andrew Tinkler, chief executive of the Stobart Group, was not at today’s meeting.

He was in London for company meetings.

The head of the giant logisitics company is overseeing the revamping of the airport to the east of Carlisle which could have a major impact on how the powerhouse takes ashape and affects the county.

He tentatively approves the project, but wants to see more detail on what it will actually mean.

He says: “As a business, we would support anything like that, but I would like to see it take a step forward before I make any serious judgement.

“Talking about it is better than nothing at all and it could be good for the area, but it is too early to judge what effect it will have.

“We need something to move us forward in the economy, but I’d like to see some meat on the bone.”


John Stevenson Carlisle MP John Stevenson has arranged today’s visit by the minister.

He sees the creation of the powerhouse as a counterweight to the economic dominance of the south of the country.

The Conservative MP reckons it will provide an opportunity to promote the brand Cumbria, rather than individual aspects of the county.

“There are two obvious selling points to Cumbria – our natural beauty and our energy and high-level manufacturing elements.

“Don’t blame outsiders for not knowing about us. It is for us Cumbrians to sell the county to the outside world.

“Being part of the powerhouse maximises our potential and any developments.

“It is an ongoing project that could last for many years.

“Today’s visit allows the minister to give his perspective on where the project has got to and gives the local business community the chance to question him as well.

“It is about developing connectivity within the north as much as down to the south and about trying to get more infrastructure in place.”

Whether the scales of the country’s economy can be unstuck and tilted so they are a little more balanced remains to be seen.

But the powerhouse project could provide energy and opportunity for the county’s economy.

Mr Haywood agrees with Mr Stevenson that the scheme will give Cumbria a louder voice and greater leverage at home and abroad.

He says: “For the first time, government departments at last understand what the total offer Cumbria has.

“People know bits of it – the nuclear industry, farming, tourism, but we need to project all of it and the powerhouse will help that.”