Since our Core Strategy was adopted in 2010, planning policy has undergone some significant changes as set out in the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). As such, we need to ensure our plans are fit for purpose and conform to national planning policy. The new Local Plan will be our strategic plan for development for the Lake District up to 2035.
Our aim has been to produce a planning framework that delivers the homes, communities and countryside that the Lake District wants and needs. We want to deliver our vision for the Lake District to be ‘an inspirational example of sustainable development in action’.
The Lake District received its inscription as a World Heritage Site in July 2017. We want World Heritage Status to be a positive force to support new investment in the Lake District’s cultural and natural environment, its communities, farmers and economies.
One of our key challenges is to enable growth to provide housing and jobs whilst conserving the landscape and its Special Qualities and attributes of Outstanding Universal Value. This must be achieved in the context of moving to a Net Zero Carbon Lake District and increasing our resilience to climate change. We have gathered evidence and listened to our communities, businesses and stakeholders to find out what the key issues are in the Lake District and how we can use this plan to deliver those aspirations.
This Plan is a result of consultation and engagement with our communities, farmers, businesses, organisations and stakeholders. We hope the result of this provides our communities and stakeholders with the certainty about what we are trying to achieve and why.
Steve Ratcliffe
Director of Sustainable Development
[1.1.01] The Local Plan 2020 to 2035 sets out the strategy for all new development in the Lake District. It provides a practical framework within which decisions on planning applications can be made with a high degree of predictability and efficiency. Local Plans are where some of the big decisions on planning for the future of our communities and use of land are made.
[1.1.02] The Local Plan provides planning policies which steer development decisions and guide planning applications. This Plan sets out the strategic policies we consider necessary to address the strategic priorities within the Lake District. These do not extend to detailed matters that are more appropriately dealt with through neighbourhood plans. As well as providing guidance to assess day to day planning applications, it also identifies where and how many new homes should be built, the locations where businesses need more land to expand or to create new jobs and which areas should be protected from development.
[1.1.03] We have produced the Local Plan in cooperation with a variety of stakeholders and in alignment with our Statement of Community Involvement. We have assessed future needs and opportunities within the Lake District, considered a number of options for addressing these needs and opportunities, and identified our suggested approaches. This has involved collecting and analysing evidence, understanding the main issues and discussing these with local communities, businesses and other interested parties.
[1.1.04] We commissioned an independent Sustainability Appraisal (SA) and Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) on the Options and Suggested Approach Document, and Published Local Plan. This also includes a Marine Conservation Zone Assessment.
[1.1.05] We have produced Supplementary Planning Documents which provide further guidance on how to implement Policy 04: Biodiversity and geodiversity, Policy 05: Protecting the spectacular landscape, and Policy 15: Housing. These can be accessed on our website www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/localplan.
[1.1.06] Under the Environment Act 1995, the National Park Authority is the sole local planning authority for the Lake District, including the functions for Minerals and Waste. We must use these planning functions to further the National Park purposes and duty.
[1.1.07] Planning law requires that applications for planning permission be determined in accordance with the development plan, which includes local and neighbourhood plans, unless material considerations indicate otherwise. The National Planning Policy Framework is a material consideration in planning decisions. For National Parks the English National Parks and the Broads – UK Government Vision and Circular 2010 is also relevant, providing updated policy guidance on a variety of themes, in particular, the Governments position on the delivery of housing in National Parks.
[1.1.08] On adoption, the Local Plan 2020 to 2035 becomes the Development Plan for the Lake District and replaces (See Appendix 2 for details) the following Local Plan documents:
[1.1.09] Designated in 1951, the Lake District is a mountainous region in North West England of some 2,362 sq. kilometres. As well as being the largest National Park in England, it has a resident population of approximately 40,297 (2017) making it the second most populated National Park in England. Its boundary extends across parts of Eden, Allerdale, Copeland and South Lakeland districts and it encompasses 82 parishes. It is bounded by the M6 and A6 to the east. The A66 and A590 run through the northern and southern areas respectively. It has some of the country’s finest upland scenery which attracts approximately 19 million visitors each year, making tourism a major industry. It was awarded World Heritage Site inscription in 2017.
[1.1.10] The purposes of National Park designation were first established in the 1949 National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act. The Environment Act 1995 revised the original legislation and set out two statutory purposes:
In pursuing the statutory purposes, National Park Authorities also have a duty to:
[1.1.11] Within the Lake District there are many different interests to manage. Protection of the spectacular landscape, delivering economic prosperity, enhancing vibrant and resilient communities and enabling world class tourism – the challenges and opportunities are endless. And it is widely acknowledged that the Lake District is a living, man-made cultural landscape that has evolved over time and needs to continue evolving to sustain its future.
[1.1.12 ] Section 11A of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 (amended by Section 62 of the Environment Act 1995) makes clear that if National Park purposes are in conflict then conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area must have priority. This Section of the Act enshrines in law the Sandford Committee’s recommendations, commonly known as the ‘Sandford Principle’. It is also made clear in the Act that this applies to all relevant authorities such as statutory undertakers and local authorities:
"In exercising or performing any functions in relation to, or so as to affect, land in a National Park, any relevant authority shall have regard to the purposes… and, if it appears that there is a conflict between those purposes, shall attach greater weight to the purpose of conserving and enhancing the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area comprised in the National Park."
[1.1.13] We will encourage and support development that is sustainable in the context of the Lake District and national planning policy on the presumption in favour of sustainable development. We have prepared this Plan to enable this to take place. Taken as a whole the Plan’s policies and principles of development outline what we consider to be sustainable development in the Lake District context but we recognise that this may change over time and therefore commit to a regular review of the Plan in line with the National Planning Policy Framework.
Figure 1: Boundary map
[2.1.01] We believe that fundamental to our ability to manage the Lake District is that we have a clear Vision for how we ultimately want the place to be. The Vision and Vision Outcomes were agreed by the Lake District National Park Partnership in 2006, and were reviewed as part of the preparation of the Lake District National Park Partnership’s Plan 2015–2020. In order to deliver our collective vision our strategic objectives all relate to delivery of this Vision. The Strategic Objectives for the Local Plan are presented as “specifically this means” and the “cross cutting objectives”.
The 2030 Vision for the English Lake District is that it will be:
An inspirational example of sustainable development in action.
The 2030 Vision for the English Lake District is that it will be an inspirational example of sustainable development in action – see our four headings below and how they link to our Strategic Objectives:
We will see the following Vision outcome:
Businesses will locate in the National Park because they value the quality of opportunity, environment and lifestyle it offers – many will draw on a strong connection to the landscape. Entrepreneurial spirit will be nurtured across all sectors and traditional industries maintained to ensure a diverse economy.
Specifically this means:
We will see the following Vision outcome:
People successfully living, working and relaxing within upland, valley and lakeside places where distinctive local character is maintained and celebrated.
Specifically this means:
We will see the following Vision outcome:
High quality and unique experiences for visitors within a stunning and globally significant landscape. Experiences that compete with the best in the international market.
Specifically this means:
We will see the following Vision outcome:
A landscape which provides an irreplaceable source of inspiration, whose benefits to people and wildlife are valued and improved. A landscape whose natural and cultural resources are assets to be managed and used wisely for future generations.
Specifically this means:
An important contribution to the nation’s wellbeing is made by opportunities in the Lake District as people benefit physically and mentally.
People and businesses have complete coverage of digital infrastructure in every valley.
People move easily between destinations utilising enhanced, integrated, and sustainable transport services and infrastructure, travel and orientation information, delivering a better choice of attractive travel options.
Distinctiveness of place and individual character of valleys is recognised, and reflected by the character and form of new development, enabling the appropriate evolution and benefits befitting a National Park and World Heritage Site.
Resilience to climate change and extreme weather events is improved by greater adaptation and mitigation. Improved energy efficiency, local scale energy generation, improved sustainable travel options, and reducing the need to travel reduce the Lake District’s Carbon Budget and mitigate predicted effects of climate change.
[2.1.02] Special Qualities distinguish National Parks from each other and other areas of the country. All of the Special Qualities of the Lake District contribute in different ways to the Outstanding Universal Value of the area recognised by World Heritage Site Status. As this is the case all of the attributes of Outstanding Universal Value are specific aspects of each of the Special Qualities. This is demonstrated in Table 1. Full descriptions of the Special Qualities are found in the Partnership’s Plan 2015-2020, as are the attributes of Outstanding Universal Value for each valley.
[2.1.03] Climate change is already having a direct impact upon what the Lake District looks like and how its environment, society, and economy will function in the future. Our strategic response to the risks that climate change presents to the Vision, Special Qualities and attributes of Outstanding Universal Value must be holistic, rather than limited to a single strategy. Therefore we have addressed climate change through a number of our policies in this document including ‘Principles of development’, ‘Development and flooding’, ‘Biodiversity and geodiversity ’, ‘Design and development’, ‘Lakeshore development’, ‘West Distinctive Area’ (in relation to Coast) and ‘Renewable and low carbon energy’.
Figure 2: How climate change is being addressed through the Local Plan
Figure 3: Key Diagram indicating the broad locations for strategic development to deliver the Vision
The Land Allocations page shows all the land allocated for different development needs, in each of the five distinctive areas.
[5.1.01] Monitoring is essential to establish what is happening and what may happen in the future and it means we can compare trends against existing policies to assess performance and whether we need to make changes. We assess the progress and effectiveness of planning policies set out in the Local Plan by asking:
[5.1.02] The Local Plan will be monitored regularly over the plan period via the Annual Monitoring Report. We will monitor the Plan as a whole, and use the list of indicators in Table 2 to inform the Annual Monitoring Report. It provides us with the opportunity to critically evaluate the effectiveness of our planning policies and monitor if a policy is working. We can also use it to identify and consider any changes in local circumstances which may influence the effectiveness of our policies.
[5.1.03] The Annual Monitoring Report is used to monitoring trend data over time and can be used as a trigger to either initiate a review of the Local Plan or introduce additional guidance on how to implement a policy, if required.
[5.1.04] We have established two types of indicator which are either ‘core’ or ‘contextual ’. Core indicators monitor the effectiveness of the policies within the Local Plan whereas the contextual indicators provide additional information that has a wider contextual benefit such as linking to the State of the Park Report. Where we identify ‘bigger better’ or ‘smaller better’ as a target these reflect circumstances where the intention of the policy is to effect a specific change or outcome. Where ‘no target’ has been specified this reflects the indicators are largely contextual or respond to individual circumstance.
[5.1.05] The aspirations of Local Plan, determined by the Vision and Strategic Objectives, will be delivered with the support of landowners, members of the community and the Lake District National Partnership.
Table 3: Indicators to be used to monitor the local plan
Objective | Indicator | Target | Source of data | Relevant policy | Indicator type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Support the development of new employment sites and buildings (including retail and tourism) | Amount and net change of floor space granted planning permission for employment by type, by location and by Distinctive Area | A net increase | Planning Applications | Policy 16 | Contextual |
Amount of employment floorspace lost to residential use | Smaller better | Planning Applications | Policy 16 | Core | |
Amount and net change of floor space completed for employment by type, by location and by Distinctive Area | A net increase | Planning Applications | Policy 16 | Contextual | |
Number of jobs (full-time equivalent) created by type and location | 190 FTE Per annum | Planning Applications | Policy 16 | Core | |
Trigger – Not achieving target for three consecutive years | |||||
Amount and net change ofcommercial, business and service floorspace created in Primary Shopping Area | A net increase | Planning Applications | Policy 17 | Contextual | |
Amount and net change ofcommercial, business and service floorspace created in Rural Service Centres | A net increase | Planning Applications | Policy 17 | Contextual | |
Amount and net change ofcommercial, business and servicefloorspace created in Villages, Clusters and Open Countryside | No target | Planning Applications | Policy 17 | Contextual | |
Support development for local / traditional businesses and activities | Number of Whole Estate Plans endorsed by the LDNPA | No target | PSV Committee | Policy 19 | Contextual |
Number of applications received and percentage approved for agricultural diversification | Bigger better | Planning Applications | Policy 19 | Core | |
Number of applications received and percentage approved for mineral extraction | No target | Planning Applications | Policy 27 | Core | |
Increase in physical extension to the area of mineral extraction | No target | Planning Applications | Policy 27 | Contextual | |
Diversity of the economic base | Percentage of population that is of working age | No target | Annual employment survey | Policy 16 | Contextual |
Percentage of working age population employed by non-visitor economy sectors | No target | Annual employment survey | Policy 16 | Contextual | |
Objective | Indicator | Target | Source of data | Relevant policy | Indicator type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
To improve the health and wellbeing of people | Amount of new development creating community facilities | A net increase | Planning Applications | Policy 23 | Contextual |
Amount of Local Green Space lost through alternative uses | Smaller better | Planning Applications | Policy 23 | Contextual | |
Number of community facilities lost to alternative uses | Smaller better | Planning Applications | Policy 23 | Contextual | |
Making Communities more resilien | Number of houses granted planning permission by type, by location and by Distinctive Area | 80 per annum | Planning Applications | Policy 15 | Core |
Trigger – Not achieving target for three consecutive years | |||||
Number of houses completed by type, by location and by Distinctive Area | 80 per annum | Planning Applications | Policy 15 | Core | |
Percentage of new dwellings approved with a permanent occupancy restriction | Bigger better | Planning Applications | Policy 15 | Core | |
Number of houses completed on allocated sites and windfall sites | 80 per annum | Planning Applications | Policy 15 | Core | |
Number of houses completed on previously developed land | Bigger better | Planning Applications | Policy 15 | Contextual | |
Density of approved housing on allocated sites | No target | Planning Applications | Policy 14 Policy 15 | Contextual | |
Density of approved housing for more than five units in Rural Service Centres | No target | Planning Applications | Policy 15 | Contextual | |
Number of homes built on Operational farms | A net increase | Planning Applications | Policy 15 | Core | |
Number of applications received and percentage approved by community led housing groups | Bigger better | Planning Applications | Policy 15 | Contextual | |
Number of applications received and percentage approved for change of use of guest houses to residential including number of additional houses completed | No target | Planning Applications | Policy 15 | Core | |
Number of settlements in the Lake District with four, five or six services from: convenience store, meeting place, primary school, public house, post office, doctors surgery | Bigger better | In house survey | Policy 02 Policy 23 | Core | |
Number of applications received and percentage approved for multi-uses of community facilities | No target | Planning Applications | Policy 23 | Core | |
Number of units granted planning permission for holiday letting which are new build | 0 per annum | Planning Applications | Policy 18 | Core | |
Number of planning permissions granted contrary to Environment Agency advice on flooding and water quality grounds | Smaller better | Planning Applications | Policy 03 | Core | |
Percentage of housing applications approved which meet the 30 per cent renewable energy target | Bigger better | Planning Applications | Policy 20 | Core | |
Percentage of other developments of greater than 100 square metres floorspace approved which meet the 30 per cent renewable energy target | Bigger better | Planning Applications | Policy 20 | Core | |
Objective | Indicator | Target | Source of data | Relevant policy | Indicator type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Every visitor has the best experience through improved attractions, access and transport | Amount and net change of floor space granted planning permission for tourism by type, by location and by Distinctive Area | A net increase | Planning Applications | Policy 18 | Contextual |
Number of applications received and percentage approved for change of use from guesthouses to different forms of holiday accommodation | No target | Planning Applications | Policy 18 | Contextual | |
Promote development that provides and or improves sustainable and integrated transport within the Lake District | Number of applications received and percentage approved for sustainable access and travel proposals | Bigger better | Planning Applications | Policy 21 | Core |
Number of applications received and percentage approved for vehicle parking proposals as part of sustainable transport improvements | No target | Planning Applications | Policy 22 | Core | |
Number of additional parking spaces granted through planning permission by location | No target | Planning Applications | Policy 22 | Contextual | |
Increase length of stay of overnight visitors | Number of bed spaces created by type, by location and by Distinctive Area | A net increase | Planning Applications | Policy 18 | Contextual |
Number of applications received and percentage approved for the reuse of existing buildings for holiday letting | A net increase | Planning Applications | Policy 18 | Contextual | |
Encourage year round sustainable tourism | Number of applications received and percentage approved for year round use of camping and caravanning sites | A net increase | Planning Applications | Policy 18 | Core |
Objective | Indicator | Target | Source of data | Relevant policy | Indicator type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
To preserve, enhance and manage landscape quality and character for future generations | Number of applications received and percentage approved contrary to Policy 05: Protecting the Spectacular Landscape | Smaller better | Planning Applications | Policy 05 | Core |
Number of applications received and percentage approved contrary to Policy 06: design and development | Smaller better | Planning Applications | Policy 06 | Core | |
Number of applications received and percentage approved contrary to Policy 24: Lakeshore development | Smaller better | Planning Applications | Policy 24 | Core | |
Number of applications received and percentage approved contrary to Policy 25: Development for the keeping of animals on a non-commercial basis | Smaller better | Planning Applications | Policy 25 | Core | |
Number of major development applications approved against Policy 26: Major Development | Smaller better | Planning Applications | Policy 26 | Core | |
To improve the quality of the built and natural environment, including the historic environment, heritage assets and their setting. | Number of applications received and percentage approved contrary to Policy 04: Biodiversity and geodiversity | Smaller better | Planning Applications | Policy 04 | Core |
Number of applications where there is a 10% or more increase in biodiversity units as measured by the biodiversity metric | Bigger better | Planning Applications | Policy 04 | Core | |
Number of applications received and percentage approved contrary to Policy 07: Historic environment | Smaller better | Planning Applications | Policy 07 | Core | |
Number of listed buildings removed from Heritage at Risk register through works completed | Bigger better | Heritage at Risk Register | Policy 07 | Contextual | |
Number of Scheduled Ancient Monuments removed from Heritage at Risk register through works completed | Bigger better | Heritage At Risk Register | Policy 07 | Contextual | |
Number of applications received and percentage approved for change of use of a building of archaeological or historic importance to economic or residential uses | A net increase | Planning Applications | Policy 07, Policy 02 | Contextual |
