Local Plan Scoping Consultation
We’re preparing a new Local Plan and want to hear your views. This is your chance to have your say on what evidence is needed to support planning policies, and how you would like to be involved as the plan progresses.
The scoping consultation is open from Wednesday 9 September to 11.59pm on Wednesday 23 October 2026.
Statement that the Local Plan timetable is to have Effect
Date of publication: 30 June 2026
In accordance with the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026, the Lake District National Park Authority, as Local Planning Authority and Minerals and Waste Planning Authority gives notice that the Local Plan timetable has come into effect on this day.
The Authority is required to prepare a “local plan timetable” through Schedule 15B of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and Schedule 7 of the Levelling Up, and Regeneration Act 2026.
A statement that the local plan timetable is to have effect is required in accordance with Regulation 8 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026 and for the purpose of this statement, the local plan timetable is to have effect and be made available from the 29 June 2026.
The local plan timetable is published on the Authority’s website here.
Local Plan timetable
This local plan timetable replaces the previous Local Development Scheme and is published in accordance with Section 15B of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) and Regulations 4, 6 and 8 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026.
Below is the timetable for preparing the new Lake District Local Plan, which will cover the administrative area of the Lake District National Park Authority. This timetable may be updated as the plan progresses.
Timetable taking effect from 30 June 2026
Publish ‘Notice of intention to commence local plan preparation’
When: 30 June 2026
Publishing the notice of intention to commence Local Plan preparation is a new requirement. It gives communities and stakeholders advance notice of plan‑making and sets out when and how they can get involved. The notice must be published at least four months before Gateway 1.
Scoping consultation
Starts: 9 September 2026
Duration: six weeks
Ends: 21 October 2026
This consultation will explain why the Local Plan is being reviewed, how engagement should be carried out and what the local plan should cover. All comments on the scoping consultation must be received on or before a date to be confirmed in October 2026.
Gateway 1: Publish self-assessment summary
When: 30 October 2026
Gateway 1 is a self-assessment summary confirming that we have published the timetable and notice of intention, completed the scoping consultation, and have a project plan in place to begin the formal stage of preparing the Local Plan. Once we complete Gateway 1, we have 30 months to prepare and adopt the plan.
Consultation on proposed plan content and evidence
Starts: January 2027
Duration: six weeks
This consultation sets out the proposed vision, aims, objectives, and a summary of the policy topics the plan will cover. We will also publish a summary of the evidence proposed to support the plan.
Gateway 2: check progress with the Planning Inspectorate
Starts: September 2027
A formal method to obtain feedback from a planning inspector on the draft plan and supporting evidence to ensure our approach aligns with national policy, guidance and legislation.
Consultation on proposed local plan
Starts: January 2028
Duration: eight weeks
This eight week consultation is on the final version of the plan and will include the proposed site allocations.
Gateway 3: examination readiness
When: September 2028
A final check by an external assessor to confirm the plan meets planning regulations and the tests of soundness, before formally submitting it for examination.
Submission of the proposed Local Plan to the Secretary of State for independent Examination
When: October 2028
The proposed Local Plan must be submitted for an independent Examination carried out by a Planning Inspector. The Examination should last no longer than six months.
Adoption of the proposed local plan
When: April 2029
Adoption of the proposed Local Plan as the development plan for the Lake District National Park.
Notices
This section contains the notice of intention to commence plan making and the notice of local plan scoping consultation
Date of publication: 30 June 2026
In accordance with Regulation 19 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2026, the Lake District National Park Authority gives notice that it is preparing a new Local Plan that will cover the administrative area of the Lake District National Park, ONS code E60000320 as shown in the map below.
Details of the plan
The type of plan that will be prepared is a local plan which will be known as the “Lake District National Park Local Plan” throughout the plan-making process and will include Minerals and Waste policies. The local plan will set out a long-term vision, strategic objectives, a spatial strategy and policy framework.
Where you can find the local plan timetable
The published local plan timetable is available on the Authority’s website and can be accessed by visiting the local plan timetable webpage.
Date expected to start preparing the local plan
The Authority expect to pass through Gateway 1 and start preparing the plan on 30 October 2026. This will mark the start of the 30-month plan preparation process.
Availability of notice
A copy of this notice can also be viewed on request at the Authority’s head office at Wayfaring House, Murley Moss Business Village, Oxenholme Road, Kendal, LA9
7RL
For further information, please email us: localplan@lakedistrict.gov.uk
Date of publication 9 September 2026
This notice marks the start of a scoping consultation for the Lake District Local Plan.
In accordance with Regulation 20 of the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulation 2026, the Lake District National Park Authority is publishing this Notice of Scoping Consultation to invite representations on the following:
- Early issues and opportunities the local plan should address
- How the Authority should engage consultees in the preparation of the local plan
The purpose of this Notice is to give communities and other stakeholders the opportunity to make representations on matters relevant to the preparation of the new local plan including what the plan should contain, as well as how the Authority will engage and involve stakeholders in its preparation.
Supporting information relating to the local plan scoping consultation and details of how to respond are available on the new local plan webpage.
Representations may also be sent to localplan@lakedistrict.gov.uk or in hard copy to Strategy & Planning Policy, Lake District National Park Authority, Wayfaring House
Murley Moss Business Park, Oxenholme Road, Kendal, LA9 7RL
Paper copies of the consultation response form will also be made available at the Lake District National Park Authority Head Office during normal office hours, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
Representations on the scoping consultation must be received by 11:59pm on Wednesday 21 October 2026.
You can also request to be notified when one or more of the following steps occur:
- Consultation on proposed Local Plan content and evidence (Regulation 23)
- Publication of observations or advice
- Consultation on the Proposed Local Plan (Regulation 27)
- Submission of the Proposed Local Plan for Examination
- Independent Examination of the Local Plan (Regulation 35)
- Decision of the Examiner to consider further matters and pause the Examination
- Publication of document and evidence related to further matters
- Publication of the Examiner Report with recommendations and reasons
- Adoption or approval of the Local Plan
If you wish to be notified at these stages, please register for Authority consultations by signing up.
Frequently asked questions
The local plan is a key policy document that guides development in the Lake District National Park and includes a list of locations or areas where development could happen.
Once the local plan is adopted, it is used to help decide the outcome of planning applications and sets out aspirations for the future.
Government requires that local plan are kept up to date and must be reviewed every 5 years to ensure policies reflect national policy and local circumstances.
The Lake District National Park Authority adopted the current local plan in May 2021 and therefore needs reviewing.
If we don’t have a local plan, it leaves us open to unplanned development (often referred to as speculative development), this means:
- we would have less control over where development happens and when it happens
- we could end up with more homes in locations that we have not chosen
- we have less control over supporting facilities like roads, schools and other services
It will take 30 months to prepare the next local plan under the new planning system.
Based on our current timetable we expect the new local plan will be completed and adopted in Spring 2029.
We expect the new Lake District Local Plan to cover the period between 2029 and 2045.
The new local plan shapes the future of your area. The local plan decided where new homes are located, what development looks like and what is protected.
Getting involved in the new local plan is your opportunity to influence decisions early. The plan is developed over several stages, and early engagement helps shape the direction before decisions are made.
Feedback we receive will help us understand what is important to you and why, so we can take this into account as we draft specific policies and proposals for the new local plan.
You can get involved in the local plan review by:
- Taking part in public consultations
- Providing your feedback through statutory consultation
- Attending local events and workshops
- Attending Parish Council meetings
- Providing feedback through the online consultation platform
Public consultation
The local plan will undergo two periods of formal consultation where you can provide your views on key issues and priorities, draft policies, site allocations and the final proposed plan.
These are the main opportunities to submit feedback that directly shapes the plan.
The timetable for formal consultation is available to view here.
Local Events and Workshops
To support the development of the new Local Plan, the Lake District National Park Authority will be attending local events and running workshops. Details of these session are yet to be confirmed. To find out when these sessions will be please sign up to receive Authority consultations here.
Consultation on the local plan has not yet commenced. Please sign up to receive Authority consultations here to receive local plan updates.
If you have any questions about the new local plan please email localplan@lakedistrict.gov.uk
You can also contact us by phoning 01539 724555
Or by writing to us at:
Strategy and Partnership Team Lake District National Park Authority
Wayfaring House
Murley Moss Business Park
Oxenholme Road
Kendal
LA9 7RL
Personal data collected through the scoping consultation and call for sites survey will be handled in line with the Lake District National Park Authority Privacy Notice.
