Senior councillors have backed a local plan for the proposed St Cuthbert's Garden Village, located south of Carlisle, ahead of its final approval by Cumberland Council next month.
The ambitious blueprint proposes the creation of a village the size of Penrith, including up to 10,000 new homes, commercial and retail sectors, employment spaces, five new primary schools, and a secondary school.
The authority's executive committee reviewed the plan at the Copeland Centre in Whitehaven on Tuesday, noting the project’s expected delivery period of between 30 and 40 years, making it the largest development of its kind north of Manchester.
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Councillor Bob Kelly (Millom, Labour), portfolio holder for policy and regulatory services, told the attending members: "There is quite a lot of detail of the vast amount of work that has been carried out on the project."
The report was agreed upon and is set for final ratification at a full council meeting in Carlisle scheduled for Tuesday, March 4.
The garden village concept was initially put forward in 2015 by the former Carlisle City Council. Last month, the Place Overview and Scrutiny panel considered the detailed report, supported by technical documentation.
The report highlights: "In 2017, St Cuthbert's joined the Garden Settlements Programme (managed by Homes England) and is the largest of the garden villages in the north of England.
"As a garden village, there is an expectation to secure higher standards of design in terms of the layout of development and the delivery and long-term stewardship of supporting infrastructure.
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"St Cuthbert's is a residential-led mixed used scheme. Spread over the four villages of Durdar, Blackwell, Carleton and Cummersdale, it will deliver approximately 10,000 new homes; commercial, retail and employment space; new primary and secondary schools; new and enhanced green and open spaces; alongside a wider range of supporting infrastructure."
According to the report, St Cuthbert's holds strategic significance for the Cumberland area and is set to, over the next 30 years: Deliver housing for around 20,500 new residents, boosting the labour force and retaining skills; Generate an estimated 7,000 direct new jobs; Inject about £93 million annually into the local economy; instil a sense of community pride; and promote participation in sports/exercise as well as access to high-quality housing, public transport, open spaces, health facilities, and nature.
The proposed housing will complement broader regeneration initiatives, including the Citadels and Carlisle University Campus project, by offering suitable accommodation to meet the changing needs of students. This strategy aims to retain a skilled knowledge base in the area, thereby attracting higher-value jobs and investment within Cumberland.
Alongside the new homes, the Carlisle Southern Link Road is set to enhance east-to-west connectivity between St Cuthbert's and the Energy Coast.
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