A housing developer has handed a six-figure sum to improve recreational facilities, CCTV and drainage at a new Carlisle estate.

Story Homes paid around £240,000 as part of conditions for receiving permission by Carlisle City Council for its development The Ridings.

The cash will be used towards new recreation and fitness equipment (£174,588), new CCTV equipment and security measures (£12,657) and landscape and drainage improvements to Upperby Park (£52,508) all in the Upperby area.

The housing giant said the new recreational facilities will not only benefit existing and future Story Homes residents, they will also have a positive impact on the wider community in south Carlisle.

David Hayward, development planner at Story Homes, said: “The homes that we build are part of wider communities, so helping to improve facilities within the local area is very important to us.

“The Ridings scheme has appropriately responded to the needs of local residents and continues to provide support for facilities in the area.

"As a Carlisle-headquartered business it is great to be able to bring these improvements and benefits to the residents of the city, adding long term value to the area.”

Throughout the lifecycle of The Ridings development,which began construction in 2014, Story Homes has made a number of ongoing contributions to the local community.

In 2017, Story Homes and Story Contracting worked together to refurbish the miniature railway facilities at Hammonds Pond, just a short distance from The Ridings, also carrying out necessary maintenance to the club building and providing members of the Carlisle And District Model Engineering Society with new uniforms.

Story Homes also contributed approximately £34,000 towards the cost and installation of a large drain to alleviate the risk of flooding at Oaklands Drive, an area which has suffered from historical flooding.

The company said The Ridings development is bringing economic benefits to the area during the construction phase, including sustaining jobs for local subcontractors and support for local businesses and supply chains.

The current development phase is also delivering 28 affordable homes for local people.

The Ridings is a development of three, four, and five-bedroom homes, on land close to Durdar, Carlisle.

The final phase of the development will include a range of new house types from the ‘Story Collection’; these properties incorporate internal layouts that offer modern, open plan living spaces.

For further information about the development visit www.storyhomes.co.uk. The show home and marketing suite is open Thursday to Monday, 10.30am – 4.30pm.