Scottish Borders Council has concluded its procurement to secure specialist support for the opening phase of business case work on the proposed extension of the Borders Railway to Hawick and Carlisle. Following an evaluation over recent weeks, consultancy group WSP has been chosen to deliver two work packages.

The commission comprises a transport appraisal to develop a shortlist of preferred options for the corridor, alongside initial high-level feasibility work; and a growth prospectus to identify wider economic opportunities that will underpin the strongest possible case.

These workstreams will inform the Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC), the first of three stages used to assess the benefits of improving transport links across southern Scotland and northern England. The SOBC is expected to take around 18 months to complete and is being jointly funded by the UK and Scottish Governments through the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.

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Councillor Scott Hamilton, Scottish Borders Council Executive Member for Economic Growth and Developing the Borders, said: "This appointment marks another important step forward in the work to develop the case for extending the Borders Railway. The support from WSP will help ensure the Strategic Outline Business Case is thorough, evidence-led and focused on the long-term benefits for communities and economic growth across the region."

Jake Cartmell, Project Director at WSP, said: "We're pleased to be supporting Scottish Borders Council on this important next stage of work to explore future transport enhancements in the corridor between Tweedbank and Carlisle, including the potential extension of the Borders Railway.

"Our focus will be on providing robust, evidence-led advice to help inform the Strategic Outline Business Case, considering the transport, environmental and economic factors that will shape the long-term case for investment. This is an important opportunity to look carefully at how improved connectivity could support communities, businesses and sustainable growth across the Borderlands region."

Further information is available at www.scotborders.gov.uk/public-community-transport/borders-railway.