The Lake District National Park has its own Planning Authority and it is the Planning Officers therein that ultimately decide whether or not to grant or refuse planning applications submitted throughout the borough. The job of a Planning Officer is not to be awkward, as is sometimes rumoured to be the case, but it is to uphold the balance between maintaining the wonderful landscape and heritage our region provides whilst meeting the needs and demands of the community.

The Lake District Local Plan

One of the tasks of the Local Planning Authority is to prepare the Local Plan. The Local Plan can serve as a “framework” for planning application submissions by ensuring that planning systems address not only housing requirements, but also that it fulfills other criteria including social, economic and environmental concerns. Once the Local Plan has been prepared it is submitted to the Planning Inspectorate who will carry out an independent examination and once approved the Local Plan is adopted. Once adopted, the Local Plan serves a number of key issues, including:

Defining the future development of how our hamlets, villages, and towns are developed;
Assisting in the development of our local economy;
Working to improve visitor facilities;
Working to improve leisure facilities;
The Plan will seek not only to protect but also to enhance our local environment.

The adoption of a Local Plan can be a lengthy process. The Lake District Local Plan was reviewed in 2016 and has recently been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate in August 2019.

Neighbourhood Plans

In addition to the Local Plan, the government introduced Neighbourhood Plans which are a relatively new way of giving local communities a say in the planning process.

Neighbourhood Plans have many benefits, not least by giving local residents a chance to influence the planning process in the region where they live and work by giving them a voice regarding matters such as

Identifying areas which are to be protected and kept as local green spaces;
Choosing where new homes, retail outlets and places of employment should be developed and also having a say in what those new buildings should look like;
Developing a shared vision for the community.

Whilst giving residents a stronger voice in the planning process, Neighbourhood Plans must adhere to and work alongside the guidelines contained within the Lake District Local Plan.

The draft Neighbourhood Plan will normally be written by a forum or group of people from the local community with the help and guidance of the local Planning Authority. Once drafted there will be a vote and independent examination. If approved by a majority then the Local Authority can “adopt” the Neighbourhood Plan meaning that it will form a statutory part of the Local Plan.

The Planning Application Process

As is usual these days, the best way to submit a planning application is to do it via the online portal but if you do not have access to the internet then you can, of course, apply by post. Each planning application must be accompanied by the following:

Drawings and plans;
An Ownership Certificate and Agricultural Land Declaration;
In some cases a Design and Access statement may be required;
Your application must be accompanied with the correct fee.

Depending on your particular application you may require certain other documentation, for example, Listed Building Consent. If you are in any doubt about what documentation is required to accompany your application then there is a very helpful Application Guide on the website (www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/planning) which will advise what additional documentation you may require.

Once the Local Planning Authority are in receipt of your application and relevant supplementary information they will assess your case and revert back to you.

If your planning application is granted the Council will confirm their decision in writing and will detail any conditions or regulations that you must comply with. It is then your responsibility to ensure that the building works go ahead in accordance with any conditions contained within the permission.

If your planning application is refused then you have a right to appeal via the Planning Inspectorate website. Only the applicant has a right of appeal against a planning decision.

Potential Breaches of Planning Permission

Should you wish to register a concern about a potential breach of planning permission then you should inform the Planning Authority via email ([email protected]) detailing the address of the site, providing the details of the alleged breach and the name of the owner (if known). Some 300 or so claims of alleged breaches are made to the Council every year and it is their aim to deal with these contentions in a timely manner. The Council seek to acknowledge receipt within three working days and then ultimately visit the site and confirm their findings to the necessary parties within three weeks.

Duty Planner

In addition to the abundance of help contained within the website (www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/planning) the Duty Planner is available for an informal chat between the hours of 9.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. from Monday to Friday. Telephone 01539 724 555.

Alternatively you may email Head Office in Kendal where you will be seen on a “first come, first served” basis without the need for making a prior appointment.

You can also email any queries you have to [email protected].