Plans for 10,000 home Carlisle development take a step forward

The local plan for St Cuthbert's Garden Village was considered and agreed by members of Cumberland Council's executive committee at a meeting in Allerdale House in Workington on Tuesday (November 26).

It will next be considered at a scrutiny committee in January, before returning to the executive in February, before being considered for final approval by the full council in March.

The project, which is expected to take between 30 and 40 years to deliver, is the largest such development north of Manchester and be the size of Penrith.

It would include around 10,000 new homes as well as commercial, retail and employment space with five new primary schools and a secondary school.

The countryside south of Carlisle (Image: Archive)

The idea of a garden village was originally proposed in 2015 by the former Carlisle City Council and work has been ongoing on the plan since then.

Councillor Bob Kelly (Millom, Labour), the Cumberland policy and regulatory services portfolio holder, said the 150-page document "shows the amount of work that has gone into this".

Councillor Mark Fryer (St Johns and Great Clifton, Labour), the leader of the council, said it was a significant document for the local area.

And councillor Anne Quilter (Morton, Labour), the vibrant and healthy places portfolio holder, said was pleased with the progress made so far and added: "I am looking forward to the first housing development."

Plans for the new development (Image: Supplied)

Members agreed with the recommendation to refer it to the place overview and scrutiny committee for further consideration and comments.

In addition, they considered and agreed a proposed second stage delivery mechanism business case for the project.

According to the report moving on to the next phase is subject to the receipt of further funding from Government and Cllr Fryer said: "We need that funding package to do that."