Letter from Westmorland and Furness – Local Plan Consultation 8th July – 9th September 2024

We are writing to you to inform you of several consultations we are undertaking over the summer and how you can take part and help us plan for the future.

Early Conversation on the Westmorland and Furness Local Plan:

We are starting work on a new Local Plan for Westmorland and Furness (excluding the National Parks) which will replace all the existing local plans adopted by the former Councils.

We are kicking off the process with an ‘early conversation’ with our communities and stakeholders from 8 July 2024 until the 9 September 2024. Drop in events are happening across the district, where people can chat to Council officers about the new Local Plan.

Information about the early conversation, the drop-in-events and how to respond is available on our website www.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/localplan. We are encouraging people to take part in the conversation and other consultations listed below using the online survey forms.  Paper copies are available upon request.

To support the Westmorland and Furness Local Plan we are also undertaking these consultations:

From the 8 July to 9 September 2024:

·       A Design Code for the Westmorland and Furness Local Plan area which will guide and shape how new development is designed.

From the 8 July to 30 September 2024:

·       A ‘Call for Sites’ for land or sites that are available for housing, employment and mixed-use sites to be considered for potential allocation in the Local Plan (excluding sites in the Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape). As part of the Call for Sites we are also seeking comments on the draft SHELAA methodology.

·       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 Local Plan.

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

Sites previously submitted or allocated

Sites previously submitted to the Council must be re-submitted on the new formor they will not be taken forward for consideration in the Westmorland and Furness Local Plan.

Housing and employment site allocations in the Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland Local Plans, which do not yet have planning permission, will be reassessed for allocation in the new Local Plan. To ensure the review of these sites is based on to-up-date information, they should be resubmitted on the new Call for Sites form.

If you have any queries about the above please email us at localplan@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk or call 0300 373 3300.

Yours faithfully,

Planning Policy Team

Thriving Places | Westmorland & Furness Council

South Lakeland House | Lowther Street | Kendal | LA9 4DQ

Tel. 0300 373 3300

westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk