Hopes for the creation of a new "garden village" with up to 10,000 new homes south of Carlisle have been given a major boost.

The Government has confirmed the ambitious project is to get a £275,000 cash injection to boost preparatory work by Carlisle City Council, bringing the total investment in the project to £500,000.

Welcoming the latest funding from the Department for Communities and Local Government, Mr Stevenson said: "The St Cuthbert's Garden Village scheme has already been given £228,000 last year to help us make progress towards creating a southern link road, so this extra funding is very welcome.

"It's a big chunk of money. Carlisle City Council will now have the capacity to start employing people to do the necessary preparatory work, and to begin engaging with land owners.

"There's now a real opportunity to develop this project. "This funding also reinforces the Government's message of commitment to Carlisle. It demonstrates a growing confidence in Carlisle and the fact that it has a positive future."

Of the 14 sites included in the Government’s Garden Village programme, St Cuthbert’s is by far the largest in terms of its potential capacity.

It is also one of only two Garden Villages north of Manchester and is amongst the most ambitious development projects being actively progressed within the north of England.

St Cuthbert's aims to develop up to 10,000 new homes, new employment opportunities, community facilities such as schools and a new southern link road over the next 30 years.

Councillor Heather Bradley, portfolio holder for economy, enterprise and housing at Carlisle City Council, says the development will respond to the city's housing, economic and infrastructure needs.

She said: "The capacity funding will help fund dedicated staff, studies and assessments that are vital to the delivery of a successful garden village.

"There will be plenty of opportunities for the public and landowners to get involved and help shape the future of the area. The first opportunity will be early 2018, where we will be looking for help drawing together a vision for the area.”

Public engagement is anticipated to start next year, in the form of inviting ideas on what should be included and prioritised within the new Garden Village and initial thoughts on where and what form development should take.