Planning chiefs have vowed to press ahead with an ambitious vision to build more than 10,000 homes in land to the south of Carlisle even if funding bids are unsuccessful.

St Cuthbert’s Garden Village is the most northerly of 14 Government-backed schemes which are designed to boost jobs and improve roads and schools.
A meeting of the Economic Growth Scrutiny Panel heard today (January 17) that plans for Carlisle were “gathering pace” and were “critical” to the city’s future.

However,  the city council is still awaiting the outcome of a £102m funding bid that would help support a new link road connecting Junction 42 of the M6 and the A595 as part of the plans.

The authority is also waiting to find out the result of a second bid for a “capacity fund” grant, the results of which are expected “imminently”.

But Garry Legg, investment and policy manager, said: “Even if the bids are unsuccessful, the plans of Saint Cuthbert’s will continue. The city wants and needs to continue to grow.”

City chiefs are also proposing a district-wide community levy to support infrastructure project such as the Carlisle southern link road.

The next steps for the vision will be to thrash out more detailed plans, which coun Paul Nedved, Conservative councillor for Stanwix, described as “critically important” for the city.

Mr Legg said that “generally” people had been positive about the garden village proposals, adding: “There were people with concerns but there were also people who are quite excited.”

But Robert Betton, Independent Councillor for Botcherby, raised multiple concerns about urban sprawl into the countryside, infrastructure across Carlisle failing to keep pace with the scale of developments and the effect of the development on retail in the city.

He sought – and received – assurances from Jane Meek, Corporate Director of Economic Development that no part of the land earmarked for development was within the flood zone.

He also said he wanted to see “substantial” social housing included in the blueprint, though the finer details of the plans are still to be worked out.
Planning chiefs hope to be in a posit to reveal more about the developing masterplan by the end of this year.