House prices will rise in the Carlisle area next year from an average £185,000, local estate agents predict, along with an increase in the numbers of homes for sale.

David Hogarth, director at Cumbrian Properties, said: “We experienced a very slow market in 2016 with the localised floods and nationally with the increase in stamp duty and uncertainty of Brexit.

“We envisage the year ahead to be much more positive with a slight increase in prices of up to five per cent and a stronger market in the Carlisle area in particular.”

Adrian Tod, of Hayward Tod Associates, said: “I expect to see a small rise in values next year and also think there will be a small increase in the number of houses sold.

“I believe it is our turn as we have not had any measurable gains in our area since the credit crunch.”

A report from the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveryors (Rics) claimed that the north west was one of the few areas which would see higher-than-average price rises next year, but Mr Tod said this did not refer to north Cumbria.

He added: “We tend to fall outside the north west in terms of statistics as our region does not perform in the same way.

“The Manchester economy, for example, is performing at a much higher level than our area and is predicted to continue to do so.

“Prices may continue to rise in prime areas due to a shortage of property, but in Carlisle and the surrounding area there is no such shortage.”

Graeme MacLeod, managing director of Cumberland Estate Agents, said: “Confidence and positive sentiment play a crucial role in the property market and positive news stories like this can only help our market.

“The greatest benefit to the greatest number of house owners will be provided by a bigger volume of sales rather than big price gains.

“And we shouldn’t lose sight of the local factors that could potentially see Cumbria outperform the north west.

“The Government committed to more major road improvements in the Autumn Statement, and while the impact of that will not be immediately felt in 2017, it does add investment confidence in the region and make the bold plans for the likes of the energy coast project all the more real.

“Big employment gains like that would be game-changing for a large part of the Cumbrian property market.”