Views are being invited on a new ‘design code’ for new developments in Westmorland and Furness.
The document will help to make sure new housing, businesses, conversions and even some changes to shop fronts will be held to consistent design standards and are in-keeping with the local area or appropriate for the location.
The agreed design code, once adopted, will guide decisions on planning applications and will be relevant to all new development, including extensions to existing buildings and land uses.
The Westmorland and Furness Design Code will ensure a consistency of approach across the new unitary authority area. It will apply to the whole of Westmorland and Furness, with the exception of areas that are within the national parks, where the national park planning authorities have their own guidance.
The new code will be used by developers and anyone putting in a planning application, to help them prepare applications by using the relevant section of the code and completing a ‘checklist’ prior to submitting the application, leading to smoother and quicker decision-making.
A six-week consultation launching today, Monday, 3 November, allows people the chance to add their views before the new design code is finalised.
Although the design code is quite a technical document, the council is keen that it is shaped by local people and those with local knowledge and there are a number of ways to get involved.
You can complete a short online survey that covers some of the ‘big ideas’ in the design code, or you can get into more detail, read the draft code and share feedback in a longer online survey.
The consultation asks for views on how design should be managed through the planning process for various types of development in various locations, including:
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- New homes (on greenfield and brownfield sites)
- Businesses
- Replacement dwellings
- Shopfronts
- House extensions
- Barn conversions
It’s also possible to just complete the parts which interest or affect you most. You may also comment on any of the supporting documents.
You can read the draft documents and complete both the ‘short’ and ‘long’ online surveys at:
https://consult.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/planning-policy-designcode/
To find out more and chat to the planning policy team you can also attend one of the public drop-in events happening across the area during the consultation:
- Wednesday, 12 November, The Coro, Ulverston – 3pm - 6.30pm
- Thursday, 13 November, Barrow Library - 2.30pm - 5.45pm
- Tuesday, 18 November, Penrith Parish Rooms - 2.30pm - 6.30pm
- Wednesday, 19 November, Appleby Public Hall - 2.30pm - 6.30pm
- Thursday, 27 November, Victoria Hall, Grange-over-Sands - 3pm - 6.45pm
- Friday, 28 November, Westmorland Shopping Centre, Kendal - 2.30pm - 5.30pm
Separate engagement events will be held for key stakeholders to share their views, including developers and planning agents, elected members and town and parish councils, young people and community groups.
Councillor Vicky Hughes, Westmorland and Furness Council’s Cabinet member for Planning and Active Well Being, said: “The design code will set a clear vision for design quality across Westmorland and Furness.
“It’s not about being restrictive, demanding only the use of certain types of materials or creating identical housing schemes. We will still welcome innovative design, but we want to set standards for that design and ensure that it remains appropriate to its location and mindful of the surroundings, whether that is in an urban setting in one of our larger towns or in a rural village.
“We know that new national housing targets and economic growth and investment in places like Barrow mean we will be seeing many more houses built in Westmorland and Furness over the coming years. We want a design code in place to ensure we are applying the same, consistent design standards through the planning process to those new developments across the whole area.
“The consultation launched today is a chance to get involved in shaping that design code and having your say in how those new developments should look.’’