Cumberland cues up St Cuthbert’s masterplan

The local authority is opening a final round of consultation on a draft document for Carlisle’s 10,000-home Garden Village.

One of the largest projects of its kind, St Cuthbert’s was one of the first wave of modern-era garden villages picked by the Conservative government around six years ago.

While others such as Halsnead in Knowsley have advanced further, St Cuthbert’s required more early stage work. The hope is that the completion of the Carlisle Southern Link Road at the end of 2025 will unlock development.

Following council approval last week, the draft Local Plan for the St Cuthbert’s Garden Village, located in the south of Carlisle, will go out for final public consultation from next week.

The plan spans the next 30 to 40 years and the development area also includes commercial, retail and employment space as well as five new primary schools and a secondary school.

The public consultation will run until Tuesday 6 May. It will consult on the draft policies and map and is the last chance for comments before the plan goes before an independent inspector.

As well as an online consultation, to run from Mon day 167 March, public events will be held in Cummersdale, Creighton and at Carlisle racecourse.

Cllr Bob Kelly, executive member for policy and regulatory services, said: “We have worked hard with our local communities and key stakeholders to get us to this point. This is now the final opportunity to comment on the plan and we have organised some public engagement events for residents and businesses to see first-hand what the plans are.

“The consultation is an opportunity for anyone with an interest to tell us whether or not we have got it right before it goes onto Government later in the year to be assessed by an independent Planning Inspector.”