AN 'ambitious and unique' housing and development scheme in Carlisle has been awarded an additional £250,000 in Government funding.

The news of Carlisle City Council’s successful bid for another round of capacity funding for St Cuthbert’s Garden Village has recently been announced by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

READ MORE: £120,000 issued for community to lead St Cuthbert's Garden village design

Councillor Marilyn Bowman, portfolio holder for economy, enterprise and housing said: "St Cuthbert’s is an ambitious and unique housing and economic development scheme for Carlisle.

"The capacity funding will help fund dedicated staff, studies and assessments that are vital to the delivery of a successful masterplan. 

"There will be further opportunities for the public and landowners to get involved and help shape the future of the area. Public engagement is key to the development of our Garden Communities."

The creation of Garden Communities to the south of the City will enable Carlisle to continue to grow in a planned way across the coming decades, the council say, adding that it will 'make the most of opportunities to build innovative, mixed-use, self-sufficient communities equally well-connected to each other and the city'.

It is an ambitious proposal that could include the development of up to 10,000 new homes, new employment opportunities, community facilities and the Carlisle Southern Link Road.

Detailed masterplanning and design codes are currently being drawn together. These will become part of a dedicated St Cuthbert’s Local Plan.

Further public engagement is also set to take place at key stages throughout the process.

READ MORE: Winner of St Cuthbert's Garden Village landscape competition announced

The adopted Carlisle District Local Plan 2015 - 2030 identifies a broad location for growth of a major mixed-use development, providing up to 10,000 new homes, to the south of the city.

Carlisle City Council have said St Cuthbert’s will be a thriving new community that will deliver a quality development that will 'transform Carlisle' and meet the need for long-term sustainable housing growth.