Planning Authorities (LPAs)
Cumbria reorganised 1 April 2023: former county council and 6 district councils replaced by 2 new unitary authorities; Lake District and Yorkshire Dales NPAs are separate LPAs
Cumbria reorganisation (1 April 2023): Cumbria County Council and its 6 district councils (Allerdale, Barrow-in-Furness, Carlisle, Copeland, Eden, South Lakeland) were abolished on 1 April 2023. Two new unitary authorities now cover the former county area: Cumberland Council and Westmorland and Furness Council. There is no Cumbria County Council - each unitary is both planning authority and highway authority for its area.
National Park planning authorities: The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) is the planning authority for all land within the National Park boundary - the largest in England at 2,362 sq km. The Yorkshire Dales NPA also covers a small area in the far north-east of Westmorland and Furness. Always verify which authority applies before submitting any planning application in or near the Lake District fells.
National Park planning authorities: The Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) is the planning authority for all land within the National Park boundary - the largest in England at 2,362 sq km. The Yorkshire Dales NPA also covers a small area in the far north-east of Westmorland and Furness. Always verify which authority applies before submitting any planning application in or near the Lake District fells.
Cumberland Council
Carlisle, Whitehaven, Workington, Maryport, Wigton, Brampton, Alston, Silloth (former Allerdale, Copeland and Carlisle districts)
Key planning considerations: Carlisle city centre has a Conservation Area; Carlisle Castle is Grade I listed (Scheduled Monument). The western coastal strip (Workington, Whitehaven) includes brownfield former industrial and port land with contamination history. Hadrian's Wall UNESCO World Heritage Site crosses the north of Cumberland - scheduled monument protection applies to the wall and its setting. Sellafield nuclear site (near Whitehaven/former Copeland) - HSE and ONR consultation zones affect development nearby. Solway Coast AONB/National Landscape on the Solway Firth. Many rural areas of Cumberland have no mains gas - heat pumps and oil heating are standard.
Westmorland and Furness Council
Barrow-in-Furness, Kendal, Penrith, Ulverston, Ambleside, Appleby, Shap (former Barrow, Eden and South Lakeland districts)
Key planning considerations: Large areas of Westmorland and Furness fall within the Lake District NPA boundary - always check before submitting. Towns at the NPA edge (Ambleside, Windermere, Coniston) may be within NPA jurisdiction. Barrow-in-Furness has a major defence and shipbuilding industry presence (BAE Systems submarine facility) - proximity development requires care; Vickers/Devonshire Dock Hall is a notable feature of the skyline. Morecambe Bay (southern border) is a Special Protection Area and Ramsar site - HRA required. Yorkshire Dales NPA covers a small area in the far north-east (around Kirkby Stephen/Mallerstang). Appleby Horse Fair is an annual traveller gathering of historic significance affecting the town for one week each June. Many rural areas have no mains gas.
Lake District National Park Authority
All land within the Lake District NPA boundary - 2,362 sq km across Cumberland and Westmorland and Furness
England's largest National Park and UNESCO World Heritage Site (2017). The LDNPA is the planning authority for all land within its boundary - not Cumberland or Westmorland and Furness councils. The NPA has its own Local Plan and applies strict policies to protect the landscape, traditional building materials (local stone, slate), and biodiversity. Extensions, new dwellings, holiday lets and commercial development all face particular scrutiny. Short-term holiday let licensing applies across the NPA. Traditional materials (Lakeland green slate, local sandstone) strongly preferred for any visible external work.
Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority
Small area in the north-east of Westmorland and Furness (around Mallerstang, Kirkby Stephen area)
The Yorkshire Dales NPA boundary was extended in 2016 and now includes a strip of land in the far north-east of the former South Lakeland area (around Mallerstang, the Howgill Fells, and land near Shap). For any site in this remote eastern fringe, verify NPA boundary before applying to Westmorland and Furness Council.
Building Control
Each unitary authority runs its own building control service; approved inspectors also operate across Cumbria
Cumberland Building Control
Carlisle, Whitehaven, Workington, Maryport and all of Cumberland unitary area
Westmorland and Furness Building Control
Barrow-in-Furness, Kendal, Penrith, Ulverston and all of Westmorland and Furness unitary area
Heritage & Conservation
Historic England North West, Cumbria HER, Hadrian's Wall UNESCO WHS, Lake District UNESCO WHS
Historic England - North West
Manchester office - covers all of Cumbria including the Lake District and Hadrian's Wall corridor
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Cumbria: Hadrian's Wall (western section, Bowness-on-Solway to Birdoswald - the wall and its bufferzone are highly sensitive to any nearby development; Scheduled Monument protection applies throughout); Lake District (inscribed 2017 - the entire National Park is the WHS; the LDNPA manages planning within the boundary). Carlisle Castle (Grade I), Carlisle Cathedral (Grade I), and Lanercost Priory (Grade I) are key assets. The Furness Abbey ruins (Barrow-in-Furness area) are a Grade I Scheduled Monument.
Cumbria Historic Environment Record (HER)
Held by Cumberland Council on behalf of all Cumbria authorities
The Cumbria HER is an essential pre-application resource for development across the county. Roman military archaeology is particularly dense along the Hadrian's Wall corridor and the Cumbrian coast (Roman forts at Ravenglass, Maryport). Medieval and post-medieval industrial sites are extensive in the west coast iron and coal areas.
Environment & Flood Risk
EA North West, Rivers Eden/Derwent/Kent, Morecambe Bay SPA, coastal flood risk, Sellafield ONR
Environment Agency - North West
Flood risk, contaminated land, water quality across all of Cumbria
Major flood risk areas: River Eden (Carlisle, Appleby, Kirkby Stephen) - Carlisle was severely flooded in 2005 and again in Storm Desmond 2015; extensive Flood Zone 2/3 land. River Derwent (Keswick, Cockermouth, Workington) - major flooding in Storm Desmond 2015 destroyed Workington's road bridge. River Kent (Kendal) - significant flooding in 2015. Coastal flood risk along the Solway and west Cumbrian coast. Morecambe Bay (southern Westmorland and Furness) - SPA and Ramsar site; HRA required for development affecting the estuary. Flood Risk Assessment mandatory for development in Flood Zones 2 and 3.
Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR)
Sellafield nuclear licensed site, Drigg low-level waste repository (western Cumberland)
Sellafield (near Seascale, western Cumberland) is the UK's largest nuclear licensed site and operates under ONR and HSE consultation zones for surrounding land use. Development within the Detailed Emergency Planning Zone and surrounding consultation areas must be referred to ONR/HSE. Drigg low-level waste repository is nearby. Cumberland Council routes relevant planning applications to ONR automatically, but applicants should be aware of site proximity.
Utilities & Infrastructure
United Utilities, Electricity North West, Cadent Gas (partial), National Highways; note: large areas have no mains gas
United Utilities
Water and wastewater services across Cumbria
Cumbria has significant private water supply infrastructure in rural areas - some remote properties are not on the United Utilities mains network and rely on private boreholes or springs. Confirm supply status early for rural development. United Utilities own and manage much of the Lake District's lake infrastructure (Thirlmere, Haweswater) as reservoirs.
Electricity North West (ENW)
Electricity distribution across Cumbria
Grid capacity can be constrained in remote parts of Cumbria. For renewable energy generation (solar, wind, hydro) or large new connections in rural areas, engage ENW early to understand connection timescales and costs.
Cadent Gas / No Mains Gas (rural areas)
Mains gas available in Carlisle, Barrow, Kendal, Whitehaven and some larger towns; most rural Cumbria has no mains gas
Important: Most of rural Cumbria - including the majority of the Lake District, Eden Valley, and remote west coast - has no mains gas supply. Oil boilers, LPG, biomass and heat pumps are the standard heating solutions. Building Regulations compliance for new builds and major renovations must consider alternative fuel strategies. Future Building Regulations changes (Future Homes Standard) will apply but heat pump suitability in older Lakeland stone properties requires specialist assessment.
National Highways
Strategic road network: M6 (Carlisle to Shap), A590 (Barrow spur), A595, A66 (Penrith-Workington), A69 (Carlisle-Newcastle)
The M6 through Cumbria (Shap Fell) is subject to severe winter weather - relevant for construction logistics and programme planning. A590 (Barrow spur) is the sole strategic road connection to the Furness peninsula - any major development in Barrow must consider its capacity and resilience. A66 trans-Pennine route upgrade is a current major project.
Trade & Professional Bodies
FMB, RICS, specialist contractors for traditional Lakeland building materials
Federation of Master Builders - North West
Covers Cumbria and all North West England
RICS North West
Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors - regional office for North West England including Cumbria
Other Contacts
HSE/ONR Sellafield safeguarding, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Countryside and Rights of Way Act, rural connectivity
Cumbria Wildlife Trust
Ecology, protected species and habitat surveys across Cumbria
Cumbria has exceptional biodiversity including red squirrels (Grizedale, Ennerdale), ospreys (Bassenthwaite), red deer, pine martens and extensive upland peat habitat. Ecological survey requirements are significant for development outside settlement boundaries. Habitats Regulations Assessment required for development near any European protected sites (Lake District fells contain several SAC designations).
Rural Connectivity - Broadband and Mobile
Much of rural Cumbria has limited or no 4G/5G coverage and relies on satellite or fixed wireless
Many rural and fell areas of Cumbria have no mobile signal and limited fixed-line broadband. The Gigabit Broadband Voucher Scheme and Project Gigabit cover some rural areas. New telecommunications masts and satellite dish installations in the Lake District NPA and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty require planning permission and must be assessed for landscape impact. Check Ofcom coverage maps for any specific site.