Arup to develop plans for eco village on 72-acre Carlisle site

A ‘revolutionary’ 800-home eco-village is planned for the outskirts of Carlisle. City businessman Fred Story has unveiled his vision for a 72-acre ‘sustainable community’ at Crindledyke, north of the city.

The site, close to the Kingmoor Park industrial estate, would feature 800 environmentally-friendly homes as well as community facilities, shops and public transport links.

Exact details of the size and eventual cost of the properties have not been released, but sustainability will be built into their design.

They could feature eco-friendly elements such as solar panels, wood burning combi-boilers and other measures aimed at reducing carbon emissions.

Mr Story’s Story Homes housebuilding operation is behind the plan, but he stressed that the community would be involved at every stage. 'This is a very ambitious project. It is revolutionary for Carlisle.

'We are trying to bring something to Carlisle that has never been done in Cumbria.

'This is being done in a prototype style in other parts of the country but we want to get ahead of the game in sustainability.

'We want to put a marker down. We want Carlisle to be ahead of the game on this.

'We will work closely with Carlisle City Council and we want to hear the views of the community. We will take on board what people say. We want them to help lead this development.

'This is one of the most exciting projects I have ever been involved in.

'We have got a good reputation and we are not going to jeopardise that. My name is on this development and I want to make sure I’m proud of it and that the whole city can be proud of it.'

Global design consultant Arup has been signed up to help direct the development.

The firm is the creative force behind Dongtan, the world’s first eco-city in China.

The finishing touches are now being applied to preliminary plans for Crindledyke, which will be revealed to the public at an exhibition in Carlisle on July 9.

A planning application will be submitted once a full consultation is carried out. It is hoped work can start within the next two years.

At 29 hectares (72 acres) the site is bigger than the Rosehill Industrial Estate, which is just over 20 hectares, and slightly larger than Talkin Tarn (26 hectares).

It will be the second biggest scheme Story has ever undertaken, behind an estate it is currently building in Dumfries.

The Crindledyke scheme is not part of controversial Government plans for 10 eco-towns across Britain, which have drawn strong protests from neighbouring communities.

Huge local opposition has been mobilised against the plans, culminating in marches and even court action to try to halt them.

But those schemes are on a far bigger scale than the one envisioned by Mr Story and many are on greenbelt land.

Mr Story added: 'We are learning from what’s going elsewhere in the country.

'We are not using the eco angle as a way to get round the planning system. This is land that has already been earmarked for development.

'We are saying ‘we have a large site, what are we going to do with it?’.'

The first public consultation on the Crindledyke proposal is planned for Wednesday, July 9 at Unit 6, Atlantic House, Fletcher Way, Parkhouse, Carlisle, between 2pm and 8pm.