THE mayor of Carlisle has praised the affordable housing options as she opened up the latest show homes on a north Carlisle housing estate.

Marilyn Bowman cut the ribbon to officially open two new show homes on the Greymoor Meadows development in Kingstown.

Whilst there, she toured the homes and the development with other members of the Gleeson team, the company behind the development.

Ms Bowman said: “I am very impressed with the Greymoor Meadows development.

"Gleeson are building homes at affordable prices, allowing working couples and families to own their own home.

“I was also very pleased to hear that Gleeson homes cannot be purchased by investors, meaning developments, such as Greymoor Meadows, truly benefit the community.”

The development, which opened in January this year, will bring 194 new homes to the north of the city.

Seventy-one per cent of the buyers so far have been first-time buyers who have used the Government’s Help to Buy scheme. Prior to the building of the homes, Gleeson paid £900,000 to Cumbria County Council to support it in providing school places in north Carlisle.

Andrew Patmore, Gleeson operations director for Cumbria, said: “Buyers are often surprised at just how affordable our homes are.

"For instance, the average selling price for a home on Greymoor Meadows is £140,000, which is £89,000 less than the UK’s average home price.

“Plus, Greymoor Meadows is perfectly located just over three miles from the centre of Carlisle and five miles from the Scottish Borders, meaning it is at the heart of a thriving community and is ideal for commuters.”