Planning Regulations clarification
17 November 2011: Update about changes to planning regulations
The Chief Executive of the Lake District National Park Richard Leafe has acted quickly to rebut suggestions that the Lake District National Park, along with other English national parks, is about to witness extensive development as a result of possible changes by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
His comments come after a news story in today’s Daily Telegraph claimed a consultation by Defra could “open the flood gates” to development in national parks. Defra has stated that its consultation is not about relaxing planning laws in any national park.
“The Lake District is not going to be over-run with intensive industrial and commercial development, I can promise all our visitors and local residents. We take very seriously our duty to look after this stunning landscape, but equally we know there are economic and social issues, such as the shortage of affordable housing, which we also need to address.
“Last night marked the end of our six-week long series of public meetings throughout the national park to consider plans which could result in up to 900 affordable homes being built in the Lake District over the next 15 years. But such schemes - in line with our Vision for the National Park - will be handled responsibly and sensitively in a way that doesn’t change the overall character of our national park.
“Sustainable development is an issue we all care passionately about and in future years the national park will see additional homes built and businesses created to provide much-needed jobs, but this will not be at the expense of a landscape that is known and appreciated all over the world.”
Read more details about the policies we use and are developing in our Planning Policies section.