The scheme could generate more than £275m in economic output each year. Credit: via Story Homes

Story Homes submits 1,300-home Cuerdale Garden Village plan

24 September 2025 15:36 Charlie Valentine Comments ()

In a bid to support the government’s £5bn National Cyber Force headquarters in South Ribble, the housebuilder has submitted its finalised outline application to build the neighbourhood on an adjacent 400-acre Green Belt plot.

Alongside the homes, Cuerdale Garden Village will host 1.7m sq ft of flexible workspace, to be tailored to support cyber and defence-related supply chains.

The £470m scheme could generate £275m in economic output each year, should South Ribble Council permit it to proceed.

Story Homes has stated that up to 50% of the homes would be affordable and offered to key worker defence staff.

More than 148 acres of the site will be publicly accessible open space in addition to playing pitches and a 500-space car park.

A 21,500 sq ft local centre and a 240-capacity two-form entry primary school would also be constructed as part of the project.

John Winstanley, managing director for strategic land at Story Homes, said: “Cuerdale Garden Village is a unique and once-in-a-generation opportunity to address current and long-term needs of South Ribble and central Lancashire, while enabling the region to meet the needs and opportunities arising through the National Cyber Force at Samlesbury.”

The £5bn National Cyber Force project was announced in 2021 and aims to consolidate experts from MI6, GCHQ, the Ministry of Defence, and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory at one campus.

Andy MacNae, MP for Rossendale and Darwen and the government’s mission champion for the North West, said: “When big investments, like Lancashire’s National Cyber Force, are accompanied by new social infrastructure – houses, schools, transport links – it’s good for all of us.

“It lays the foundation for success and maximises the benefits of investment, so that people locally and county-wide can feel the benefits of more jobs, talent, and money coming into Lancashire.

“Proposals like this are a great example of that, showing how the government’s increased defence spending is spurring growth, creating change across the country.”