Carlisle's 10,000 home plan could bring 7,000 jobs and £193bn boost

At a meeting in Allerdale House on Tuesday (November 26), Cumberland Council's executive committee considered and agreed the local plan for the major housing project, St Cuthbert's Garden Village.

Spread over the four villages of Durdar, Blackwell, Carleton, and Cummersdale, the project aims to deliver approximately 10,000 new homes, commercial, retail, and employment space, schools, alongside supporting infrastructure.

The development - the largest of its kind north of Manchester - is expected to support around 20,500 residents over the next 30 to 40 years.

An executive report highlighted the significant benefits of the project, which is expected to be around the same size as Penrith.

These include an estimated 7,000 new jobs, increased local spending by around £93m annually, and a '£193bn overall boost' to the local economy.

It is also set to create space for diverse business accommodation for start-ups, SMEs and spaces for innovation.

The delivery of the garden village relies on three 'overlapping' projects, according to one report given to councillors.

These include the completion of the Carlisle Southern Link Road, set to be in 2025; the adoption of the St Cuthbert’s Garden Village Local Plan, scheduled for summer 2026; and the establishment of a 'special purpose delivery mechanism'.

This final point will be 'complex', the report states, adding: "The mechanics of how one would be governed, resourced and financed needs to be thoroughly examined through an iterative business case process (involving a continued dialogue with Government)."

Plans for the 'St Cuthbert's Garden Village', a vast development on the outskirts of Carlisle (Image: Cumberland Council)

Leader of Cumberland Council, Cllr Mark Fryer said: “The Cumberland area is going through a period of unprecedented change.

"This managed and sustained growth will provide a new and positive future for our residents and businesses.

"St Cuthbert’s Garden Village will be a ground-breaking development and the additional work undertaken confirms that it will provide a significant boost to Carlisle’s economy and support the local supply chain.

“This is an exciting time to live and work in Cumberland," he said. 

Educational provisions within the local plan include three primary schools and one secondary school in Durdar, and one primary school each in the Carleton and Cummersdale areas. 

The executive also heard how the project would "complement wider regeneration projects including the Citadels and Carlisle University Campus project".

Ongoing work with the £212m Carlisle Southern Link Road (CSLR) project aims to support the development as well as cut congestion and improve links between the city and the motorway.

Challenges to the creation of the garden village include the fact that the land ownership is fragmented and there is 'no single master developer' to bring the scheme forward, councillors heard.

The scrutiny committee will review the local plan in January, followed by its return to the executive in February, with final approval by the full council anticipated in March.