New-build homes come with bare windows. No curtain poles, no blinds, no shutters — just glass. For most buyers, sorting window coverings is one of the first things on the list after moving in. If you've just bought, or are about to buy, a new home in Cumbria, here's what's being built and what you need to think about when it comes to blinds and shutters.
Active Developments Across Cumbria
Carlisle
Carlisle has more new-build activity right now than at any point in the last decade. The biggest project is St Cuthbert's Garden Village in south Carlisle — a long-term plan for up to 10,000 new homes over 30–40 years, including five new primary schools and a secondary school. Cumberland Council approved the draft Local Plan in March 2025 and the project is now moving through independent review.
Closer to completion, Persimmon Homes' Morton development off Wigton Road has reserved matters approval for 720 homes — 436 Persimmon, 68 Charles Church-branded, and 216 affordable. The site includes 32 acres of public open space and a £4 million Section 106 agreement. Homes are already on sale.
West Park Gardens by Charles Church is also active in Carlisle, offering larger, energy-efficient homes with premium fittings — the kind of property where made-to-measure shutters or quality roller blinds make a real difference to the finished look.
The Woodlands in Carlisle — a 23-acre site — has 157 homes planned by Genesis Homes, with construction expected to begin in 2026. The development includes the conversion of Victorian Cumberland House into six apartments.
Castles & Coasts Housing Association has also submitted plans for 91 affordable homes in Stanwix, north Carlisle, in partnership with United Living.
Harker
Harker Place by Gleeson Homes is one of the most active developments near Carlisle right now. Located in the village of Harker, just north of the city, the scheme will deliver 186 homes in total — with 42 affordable homes provided in partnership with Castles & Coasts Housing Association. Gleeson and Hartfell Homes are jointly delivering the wider 300-home Harker neighbourhood plan. Three and four-bedroom homes are already on sale.
Penrith
Saddleback View by Persimmon Homes is Penrith's main active development — a collection of three and four-bedroom homes with views towards the Lake District and Eden Valley. The development is well under way with homes available now.
Story Homes has also received approval for 98 homes at The Fairways, Penrith — a mix of two, three, four, and five-bedroom properties on the edge of the town.
Wigton
Strawberry Meadows by Washington Homes is a development of 77 new homes in Wigton — two, three, and four-bedroom designs on the edge of this market town.
Longtown
Wannop Developments — a Cumbrian housebuilder based in Brampton — has eco-friendly new homes at Waverley Road and Murray Close in Longtown. Two, three, and four-bedroom properties built to a high specification, with energy efficiency at the core of the design.
Wetheral
Mulberry Mews by Woodgrange Developments is a small, exclusive development in Wetheral — six four-bedroom detached homes and two three-bedroom detached bungalows. The kind of premium village development where plantation shutters are a natural fit.
What Cumbrian New-Build Buyers Need to Know About Blinds
New-build homes are handed over with bare windows. There are no fittings, no tracks, and no poles. That's actually an advantage — you get to choose exactly what you want from scratch, without having to work around what was there before.
Perfect Fit blinds are made for new-build uPVC windows
Most new-build homes have uPVC windows, and Perfect Fit blinds are designed specifically for them. They clip directly into the window bead with no drilling, no screws, and no damage to the frame. They sit flush with the glass, look clean and modern, and are cord-free — important if you have young children.
Measure after plastering, not before
If you're buying off-plan, wait until the property is fully plastered and the window reveals are finished before measuring for blinds. Window reveals can change slightly during the build process. We always measure on-site before ordering anything.
Think about the whole house at once
It's tempting to do one room at a time, but booking a single home consultation to measure every window at once is more cost-effective. You'll also get a consistent look throughout the house, which matters more than most people expect.
Shutters are a long-term investment
If you're buying a new home you plan to stay in for ten or more years, plantation shutters are worth serious consideration. They add value, they last the lifetime of the house, and they look better than blinds in most rooms.
Energy efficiency matters in new builds
New-build homes are better insulated than older properties, but windows are still the weakest point in the thermal envelope. Duette (honeycomb) blinds and Perfect Fit pleated blinds both add a layer of insulation at the window, reducing heat loss in winter and heat gain in summer.
We Cover All of Cumbria
CS Blinds & Shutters Ltd covers all of the developments listed above — and many more across Cumbria. We offer free home consultations, measure every window on-site, and supply and fit everything ourselves. No middlemen, no subcontractors.
Give us a call on 01228 598646 or use the contact form to book a free consultation. We'll come to you, measure up, show you samples, and give you a no-obligation quote.