The ambitious project to build a bypass south of Carlisle has taken a major leap forward.

Cumbria County Council has officially requested permission to begin building the southern link road - or southern bypass - following a period of public consultation in which the authority gathered opinions of local residents.

Submitting a formal application to its planning department, the county council’s submission indicates the local authority now has detailed plans ready for the scheme to go ahead.

The council’s cabinet member for highways and transport, Keith Little, said: “The submission of the planning application marks a key milestone towards delivery of the Carlisle Southern Link Road.

“It’s another exciting step towards creating this new strategic road that will provide significant benefits, not just for Carlisle, but the whole county, helping to unlock both housing and economic growth.

“I’m delighted with the level of responses we had to the public consultation, as it’s so important that local people have had the chance to have their say, so that together we can make the scheme the best scheme it can be.”

Carlisle’s MP, John Stevenson, has long been a champion of the southern bypass project.

He said: “It is testament to the growing success of Carlisle that the city has received more than £100m from the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund.

“I am pleased that Cumbria County Council have now submitted the planning application for the southern link road.

“This scheme will reduce congestion throughout Carlisle, build the new infrastructure which will support the development of the St Cuthbert’s garden village, and help Carlisle to continue to grow as a city.”

Mr Stevenson’s comment highlights the wider significance of the southern bypass - as its completion is liked to the successful realisation of the enormous garden village proposal, which would see thousands of new homes built to the south of the city.

Up to 10,000 new homes are planned for construction as part of the garden village project.

Proponents of the southern link road also say it will significantly improve connectivity for Carlisle residents to west Cumbria, as well as help make the city itself more accessible.

The submission of the planning application will trigger a review of the bypass plans, and if approved, construction work is expected to start in 2021 for a two year period.