A 'KEY part of the masterplan' to bring 10,000 homes to the south of Carlisle has taken a step forward.

The progress comes after the Northern Trust Company announced that it agreed a 'planning promotion agreement' with a private landowner on land at St Cuthbert’s Garden Village.

Under a promotion agreement, the developer agrees to promote the land through the planning process, to secure planning permission for development.

The land which extends to 176 acres is currently a greenfield site in agricultural use, with the plans being promoted in two separate phases with the aim of creating 750 homes.

The planning promotion agreement is part of the wider development to bring homes, new employment opportunities, community facilities and a new Southern Link Road to the city.

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David Jones, senior land manager at Northern Trust said: “We are actively looking for further residential and commercial land opportunities to purchase or promote throughout the UK; so we are pleased to be working with this private landowner on facilitating the plans for development of this strategic site to provide much needed new homes for the area and continue the investment for the benefit of the local community.”

Northern Trust are working alongside Savills planning and development teams in the North West to secure planning and to agree a land deal respectively.

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Ed Rooney, Savills North West development director said: "The Carlisle housing market is a huge opportunity for north-west house builders with the shortage of land elsewhere in the region.

"Carlisle is set for significant economic growth aided by the high-quality housing and environment provided by the Garden Village and our client’s land at Carleton is a key part of the overall housing masterplan to the south of the city.”

Jonathan Ainley, associate director in the planning team at Savills in the North West, added: "We have worked on behalf of the landowner over the last five years to promote this site and now look forward to the next phase, working with Northern Trust to progress a Garden Village at Carleton in the short term.

"It forms part of the largest Garden Village in the country and we are confident it can deliver high-quality new homes, with excellent public spaces and connectivity, whilst also supporting Carlisle City Council in its ambition to achieve economic growth," he said.

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