THE leader of Carlisle City Council has welcomed the start of a series of consultation events that will help shape the future of St Cuthbert’s Garden Village.

St Cuthbert’s, says the council, will be a: “A thriving new community that will deliver a quality development to transform Carlisle. It will meet the need for sustainable housing growth over the next 25 years, making Carlisle the place of choice for those wishing to feel the benefits of living in the countryside with the convenience, connectivity and opportunities of a major city.”

Councillor John Mallinson, said: “The public consultation on the development of St Cuthbert’s Garden Village is well underway and we will be holding our first public consultation event tomorrow in Carlisle city centre.

“Masterplans for the Garden Village have reached another key stage and provide another opportunity to have your say. Lots of information is available at www.stcuthbertsgv.co.uk and tomorrow’s event is one of six public consultation events planned for different venues around the city.”

The consultation on the development of the ambitious and unique housing and economic development scheme for Carlisle started on Monday and will continue until October 14.

St Cuthbert’s will enable Carlisle to grow in a planned way long into the future, making the most of opportunities to build innovative, mixed-use, self-sufficient communities that are all well-connected to each other and the city.

The outcome of this next phase of work will be a draft masterplan covering:

  • Land use - the location, extent, type and mix of development including housing, commercial, retail, community and other uses.
  • Movement and access - highlighting new and enhanced routes to create a well-connected place for walking, cycling, public transport and other vehicles.
  • Green and blue infrastructure - identifying the location and function of new and enhanced green and blue spaces (natural aquatic features such as lakes) across the area.
  • Urban design - defining important gateways, focal points, views and frontages.

To ensure that the final masterplan is robust and maximises the site opportunities, three options have been developed by Arup, a multi-national planning and design services consultancy, working on behalf of the council.

The council is seeking public views on the strengths and weaknesses of each option. Boards displaying the latest plans can be seen at the consultation events. Council staff will be on hand to guide members of the public through the proposals.