A plan to attract new jobs and investment in Dumfries and Galloway has been signed off.
The Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal covers southern Scotland and the north of England.
And it is hoped that it could attract up to £452 million of investment to the area.
Ministers from both the Scottish and UK Governments, as well as representatives of the five councils to partner in the initiative, endorsed the deal at a virtual ceremony yesterday.
Dumfries and Galloway Council leader Elaine Murray said: “I am delighted that we are now at the stage of signing the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.
“This is the culmination of three years of hard work and shared ambition to produce the first cross-border deal and the largest UK growth deal to date.
“The deal will improve connectivity, deliver skills and innovation and support the longer-term resilience of our towns and communities.
“This in turn will help attract new residents and new employment opportunities and welcome more visitors to our region.
“We anticipate that the deal will deliver an additional 5,500 jobs to the Borderlands, attract over four million extra tourists, unlock investment in our towns and boost the region’s economy by £1.1 billion.
“This deal will make a very significant contribution to the economic growth of Dumfries and Galloway, attracting further investment, improving our towns and benefitting the whole of our region.”
Holyrood’s Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity minister, Michael Matheson, said: “I am pleased to be signing the Borderlands Growth Deal, confirming that the Scottish Government will invest £85 million in the region over the next 10 years.
“The deal is focused on local people and local priorities, enabling the Borderlands area to create sustainable jobs, re-invigorate the economy and build strategically for long term growth and prosperity.”
As well as Dumfries and Galloway, the councils involved are the Scottish Borders, Carlisle City, Cumbria and Northumberland County.
Infrastructure, green growth, innovation and business and skills are the four pillars on which the project will be built - with a set of projects earmarked to deliver change in each tier.
Work to upgrade Carlisle Station as a gateway to the region is included, as well as the development of the former Chapelcross nuclear plant near Annan as an investment site for low carbon energy generation and energy efficient business.
Up to £31 million will be delivered for green energy projects and £7 million will go on developing the skills needed to bolster the regional economy.
It will also bring much-needed improvements in digital and mobile connectivity.
Work has already begun on some projects set to be delivered under the terms of the deal.
