Up to 10,000 new homes could now be built near Carlisle, after the Government gave the go ahead for a 'garden village'.

The St Cuthbert's area, described as being "to the south of Carlisle, between junction 42 of the M6 and the A595", was named today as one of 14 new garden villages - the first of their kind to be created.

The garden village scheme is an expansion of the existing garden towns programme. These smaller projects will be for between 1,500 and 10,000 homes.

The Carlisle scheme will, alongside the other 13, have access to a £6m Government fund to support its creation over the next two financial years.

The aim is that the development will not simply be an extension of the urban area of the city, but instead will be a distinct new village in its own right.

The government also announced support for three new garden towns, and a further £1.4m of funding to support their creation.

Housing and planning minister Gavin Barwell said: "Locally-led garden towns and villages have enormous potential to deliver the homes that communities need.

"New communities not only deliver homes, they also bring new jobs and facilities and a big boost to local economies. These places combined could provide almost 200,000 homes."

In addition to funding, the government will provide support in terms of expertise, brokerage and offer of new planning freedoms.

The new garden projects will also have access to infrastructure funding programmes, such as the new £2.3bn Housing Infrastructure Fund announced during this year’s Autumn Statement.