Now northern developer Story Homes can start in the summer on a steady programme of building work on land adjacent to Kingmoor Business Park.

The house builder expects to build around 60 houses a year over more than a decade, creating 100 long term construction jobs.

Carlisle city councillors approved the £150m development in principle last month.

But the scale of the development meant Pickle wanted to run the rule over the scheme before planning consent could be given.

Councillors will award planning permission once Story signs a section 106 agreement to provide the school, community facilities, affordable housing, open spaces and highways works.

“This is a major step towards a new future for this area of our city and goes a long way in helping to meet the shortfall in housing provision across Carlisle,” said Fred Story, Chief Executive of Story Group.

“We will employ 100 people on site for about 20 years and there would be more jobs created off site including window suppliers, concrete suppliers, aggregate suppliers, tarmac suppliers and so on. As a local company we use local suppliers as much as possible.”