Transport chiefs have published a timetable of their efforts to find a route for Carlisle's proposed new southern link road.

For years, politicians have dreamed of completing the “missing link” in the city's roads infrastructure, with a route between the A595 south of Carlisle and the M6 at Junction 42.

Supporters say it would significantly boost the city’s economy.

The road would also support the creation of the proposed new St Cuthbert's “garden village” south of the city, with up to 10,000 new homes.

Officials have now contacted landowners south of Carlisle as part of their effort to find a possible route for the link road.

In a statement, Cumbria County Council said that the timetable for the proposed road project – which will be subject to intensive public consultation – would be as follows:

* Initial investigations: August 2017 – September 2018;

* Identification of a potential route: September 2017 – January 2018;

* Public consultation on route options: January – March 2018;

* Further technical assessment of options (including value for money assessments to test whether benefits outweigh costs): March – April 2018;

* Production of Outline Business Case: April – May 2018;

* Preferred route identified: Summer 2018;

* Preliminary design of preferred route, including further surveys and assessment: Summer 2018 onwards (subject to funding).

The investigation of a possible route will face major challenges – including the need to take the road over the West Coast Main Line – the country's busiest rail route, and over the River Caldew.

Carlisle City Council Leader Colin Glover stressed that no decisions had yet been made and that the project is at a very early stage, but he said the link road could bring major benefits.

He said: “Early this year, the idea of the St Cuthbert's garden village south of Carlisle was approved by the Government and a new link road to the south of the city will help to take that vision forward.

“It would also take pressure off Carlisle.”

The new road would link the A595 from Peter Lane to the M6 at Junction 42.

Helen Davison, chairwoman of the Carlisle Green Party, said the city should not simply assume building a new road was the right thing to do.

“We need to look at the whole picture and see if there are other solutions,” she said.

She recognised the benefits of less traffic going through Carlisle but suggested new roads tend to fuel more car use.

“If we're talking about a garden village, we should design it so people who don't have transport can use public transport; so they don't actually need a car," she said.

The ongoing £370,000 study is funded by the County Council, City Council, and the Homes and Communities Agency.