THE CITY council is asking landowners to get in touch if they own ideal land for development during a period of unprecedented growth in Carlisle.

Carlisle City Council will run a six week “Call for Sites” between March 21 and April 25, keen to find new sites that could support new housing, employment, habitat creation and community uses for gypsy and traveller pitches.

The sites will be considered of inclusion in the future Carlisle Local Plan which will allocate locations in the district for development.

The current Local Plan came into effect in 2015 and sets the tone for planning policy in Carlisle until 2030.

A spokesperson for the council said in a press release: “The Council needs to ensure that they have enough deliverable land to meet their development targets. The call for sites is the first step in the process of looking for land with the potential to support new development.”

The callout comes at a time of unprecedented growth in the city. Large housing developments are being approved across the district while plans are being drawn up for the St Cuthbert’s Garden Village project, which will see 10,000 homes constructed in the south of Carlisle in the next 30 years.

Councillor James Bainbridge, who represents Sandsfield and Morton West, raised concern about rapid housing growth at full council in January.

This week, Cllr Bainbridge said: “In the past, the assessment process has in my view been more about housebuilding and less about coherently managing how new housing will affect local services.”

Cllr Bainbridge welcomed consultation in the early stages, believing that it will lead to the most suitable sites being considered.

“Housing for the sake of housing is never a workable long term solution, but using potential housing to deliver contributions to better services is a much better way forward.”

Landowners with a piece of land they think could have potential, and that they can confirm is available for development, is being asked to submit that site for consideration.

From Monday, those looking to get involved can download a form from https://www.carlisle.gov.uk/planning-policy/Call-for-Sites