Mayor Attends Opening of £21 Million Housing Development in Carlisle

The Mayor of Carlisle attended the official opening of a new residential development in Carlisle, commending the house builder for continuing to build truly affordable housing and its support of local community projects.

Penrith-based house builder Gleeson welcomed the Mayor, Councillor Marilyn Bowman, and her Consort, Mr Bowman, to the official opening at its £21m Moorside Place development off Moorside Drive in the Garlands area of the city.  To commemorate the event, the Mayor was invited to lay a brick on top of the foundations of the first plot to be raised.  The land, which was formerly used for agricultural purposes, will eventually comprise of 166 new 2, 3 and 4 bedroom semi-detached and detached homes.

Gleeson’s third development to open in Cumbria, Moorside Place has already proven massively popular with first-time buyers who have taken advantage of HM Government’s Help to Buy Scheme. Close to the M6, the site also benefits from good public transport links to the centre of Carlisle and the Scottish borders and is within easy reach of many local amenities.

In a speech, Gleeson Homes Operation Director, Andrew Patmore, said:

Buyers are often surprised at just how affordable our homes are. For instance, prices at Moorside Place start at just £112,995 for a two-bedroom semi-detached home with driveway. A mortgage on this size property is often cheaper than renting and allows local people, particularly first-time buyers, to get onto the property ladder and enjoy the benefits of home ownership.

Recently voted the most sustainable company in the UK due to its use of environmentally friendly materials, such as gravel on driveways, Gleeson also implements its Community Matters programme on all its developments throughout the North of England, dedicating itself to making a difference in the community.  The company aims to provide job opportunities for local people and subcontractors as well as offering apprenticeship schemes and providing sponsorship for local junior sports teams.

The Mayor of Carlisle said of the development:

This is my second visit to a Gleeson Homes development; my first being to the opening of its Briar Lea Park site in Longtown. I am pleased to hear that Gleeson remain committed to building affordable homes in Cumbria, particularly in Carlisle. After chatting with the team, I was also delighted to discover that the company are wholly committed to supporting the communities in which they build, including the sponsorship of local junior sports teams and employing local labour.

Gleeson’s Sales Office at Moorside Place is open Thursday through to Monday from 10am to 5pm.