Lovell has been selected by housing association Riverside Carlisle to build a £4.8 million new affordable housing development in Morton, Carlisle.

The new development of 43 homes for social rent at Barras Close will include four four-bedroom, 16 three-bedroom and 18 two-bedroom houses and five two-bedroom bungalows. The scheme is going ahead with £2.9 million investment from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA). It is set to be completed in February 2011.

The new street is to be known as Caslin Way in tribute to the late Lynn Caslin, the former manager of Morton Community Centre in Carlisle, who died in 2009.


Properties will meet Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, the system for measuring the environmental performance of new housing. All homes will have solar water heating; some of the larger properties will also have rainwater harvesting systems.

Through the scheme, Lovell will also provide an apprentice training placement, giving a local person the opportunity to gain an NVQ Level 2 construction qualification by combining working on the development with college-based training.

Malcolm Irving, Leasehold and Development Manager at Riverside, said: "Caslin Way (formerly Barras Close) represents Riverside Carlisle’s first major new-build development. The development is the culmination of Riverside and Lovell working with the community to deliver homes which meet the aspirations of local residents and which positively contribute to the local area. Riverside Carlisle has secured funding from the HCA for this and a number of other developments which are planned in and around Carlisle soon. We look forward to families moving into these homes in the near future and are sure that they will be very happy with the design and quality of their new homes."

(CD/GK)