Westmorland and Furness Local Plan

Consultation 8^th July - 9^th September 2024

The changing of the guard at Whitehall has begun in earnest. The Planning & Housing department as of yesterday (8th July) are pushing planning authorities to move quickly to find land for housing.

The first news out of the gate in terms of local development here in Cumbria is that the Westmorland & Furness Local Plan process has now commenced, with a consultation period, beginning today 8^th July until the 9^th September.

In brief, anyone with land they would like to put forward for development is requested to do so within the next 8 weeks or so. Obviously, it will be a planning judgement as to whether the land is suitable or accepted but nevertheless it is a new opportunity for development in the locality.

The new Local Plan for Westmorland & Furness (excluding the National Parks) will replace all the existing local plans (Eden District Plan, South Lakeland Local Plan, and Barrow Borough Local Plan) in place prior to the amalgamation of the authorities to just two unitary areas.

Planners are requesting early 'conversations' with landowners and stakeholders with drop in events planned where it will be possible to speak to council officers.

From the 8^th July to 9^th September 2024 it is proposed there will be:

• A Design Code which will guide and shape how new development is designed.

From the 8^th July to 30^th September 2024:

• A 'Call for Sites' for land or sites that are available for housing, employment and mixed-use.
• A 'Call for Sites' for land or sites that are available for minerals and for waste development to be considered for potential allocation in the Plan.

Further details are available on the Council website including how to access the online survey forms.

Note, Sites previously submitted or allocated must be re-submitted. Obviously if you require assistance with this please give our office a call where one of our Town Planners will be able to assist.

Housing and employment site allocations in the Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland Local Plans, which have been submitted but do not yet have planning permission, will be reassessed and therefore to ensure a review of these sites is based on to-up-date policies, they should be resubmitted.

If you have any queries about the above please either email or call:

PFK Rural on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 01768 866611, or alternatively Westmorland & Furness on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 0300 373 3300.