The existing Westmorland and Furness Local Plan currently comprises the Local Plans that were adopted by Barrow Borough Council, Eden District Council, South Lakeland District Council and Cumbria County Council. The new Westmorland and Furness Local Plan, which we have started preparing, will replace these.
Westmorland and Furness is a new council, which came into being in April 2023. We are at the early stages of preparing a new Local Plan for Westmorland and Furness. However, until that is adopted the Local Plans from the old 'legacy' councils (Barrow, South Lakeland, Eden and Cumbria) will stay in place. We will carry on deciding planning applications in line with these existing local plans.
These existing plans are brought together in a document called the Consolidated Planning Policy Framework. The framework also lists other more detailed planning guidance such as development briefs for particular sites and neighbourhood plans prepared by Parish and Town councils.
Westmorland and Furness Consolidated Planning Policy Framework (PDF: 1.2Mb / 44 pages)
Large parts of Westmorland and Furness are within the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. Here the National Park authorities have their own local plans and also deal with planning applications. So the Westmorland and Furness Local Plan will only cover parts of the District outside the National Parks.