Plans for 10,000-home garden village near Carlisle progress

Plans for a proposed 10,000-home garden village to the south of Carlisle took a step forward this week when councillors voted in favour of the next stage of the project.

Members of the council’s place overview and scrutiny committee met at Allerdale House, Workington, on Wednesday (January 7) to consider the report – St Cuthbert’s Garden Village: Delivery Vehicle Options Appraisal.

Members were recommended to provide feedback on the assessment of options to support the delivery of the garden village and endorse the next stage of programmed works that would inform the preparation of an application to the Secretary of State to establish a Locally Led New Town Development Corporation (LLNTDC) which were agreed.

Councillor Bob Kelly (Millom, Labour), the environment and planning portfolio holder, said that getting to this stage had been a ‘complex and difficult issue’ and it was still a work in progress. He added: "It’s got to work and it’s not got to put the council at risk."

Members were told there was a public consultation last spring and, if it was left to the private sector to deliver the garden village, there would be problems.

According to the report, two options were left on the shortlist as having the greatest potential to meet the objectives:

A public/private joint vehicle between Cumberland Council and a private sector investor/delivery partner; or

A Locally Led New Town Development Corporation (LLNTDC).

Councillor Joseph Ghayouba (Bransty, Labour) asked if the council would be at financial risk from the project and he was told that, with a private partnership the rewards and risks were split 50/50 but with a development corporation the council was a lot more shielded.

Councillor Tony Markley (Solway Coast, Conservative) asked how they were planning to attract new businesses to the area and added: "There’s going to be a lot of new properties, but we need jobs for the people."

He was told it was not just a residential development as it would also include commercial, retail and employment space, extensive green spaces, as well as new schools.

Councillor Jeanette Forster (Hillcrest and Hensingham, Labour) asked what proportion of the properties would be classed as affordable homes and she was told it would be 20 per cent from a number of different providers.

Councillor Carni McCarron-Holmes (Maryport North, Labour) said it was a 'flagship initiative' for Carlisle and the wider Cumberland Council area and councillor John Mallinson (Houghton and Irthington, Conservative), a former Carlisle City Councillor, said he was happy to go along with the recommendations and added: "I’ve been involved with this project for a long, long time."

According to the report the establishment of any form of delivery mechanism for St Cuthbert’s would be complex. It states: "The mechanics of how one would be governed, resourced and financed needs to be thoroughly examined through an iterative business case process (involving a continued dialogue with Government).

"This will enable the council to identify the preferred mechanism which has the greatest positive impact with regards to delivery.

"As part of developing a business case, a long list of potential delivery vehicles were considered assessed against an agreed set of delivery and place making principles."

The report states: "The two shortlisted options have subsequently been thoroughly assessed through a business case approach from a strategic, economic, commercial, financial and management perspective, to provide a robust basis upon which a preferred vehicle can be selected.

"This assessment has identified that to drive forward the delivery of St Cuthbert’s, the LLNTDC has more comprehensive powers to deliver the best socio-economic outcomes with less risk to the council compared to the public/private joint venture alternative.

"Scrutiny is being asked to consider the headline results contained within this report and to provide advice to officers on proposals to establish a LLNTDC to support delivery of St Cuthbert’s Garden Village."