Council opening hours throughout Christmas
Some Westmorland and Furness Council offices will be closed over the Christmas and New Year Bank Holidays. Read the full list of Council opening hours during the festive period.
Consultations
Active, upcoming and past consultations on the new Westmorland and Furness Local Plan and other planning policy documents, and how you can get involved.
How to get involved
Sign up to our Planning Policy consultation database to receive email updates about any future consultations on our Local Plan and other planning policy documents.
Active Consultations
Second Call for Sites
28 November 2025 - 20 February 2026
Westmorland and Furness Council are inviting submissions for the second Call for Sites as part of the preparations for a new Local Plan. We are seeking a wide range of land development opportunities that could help meet future development needs across Westmorland and Furness.
This is your chance to suggest sites for different types of development, from housing and employment to community and local green space.
Visit the Call for Sites page to find out more about the process and submit a site for consideration
North Pennines National Landscape (AONB) Management Plan
The production of North Pennines National Landscape (AONB) Management Plans is a legal duty, placed on local authorities, acting jointly where National Landscapes cross administrative boundaries. The duty is discharged by the relevant local National Landscape teams. In the North Pennines, the duty is placed on Durham, Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmorland & Furness councils and discharged through the North Pennines National Landscape team.
This is a strategic plan for the North Pennines as a place - it is not a workplan for any specific organisations, and everyone can have a role in implementing it. The focus of the plan is the conservation and enhancement of nature and heritage, and supporting people’s enjoyment and understanding of the National Landscape and all it has to offer.
Past Consultations
| Document name | Consultation / Stage | Closing Data |
|---|---|---|
| Design Code Draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) Consultation | Draft Stage | 14 December 2025 |
| Draft Central Barrow Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan Consultation | Draft Management Plan | 30 November 2025 |
| Draft Penrith Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan Consultation | Draft Management Plan | 30 November 2025 |
| Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape | Draft Management Plan | 17 October 2025 |
| Sockbridge and Tirril Neighbourhood Plan | Neighbourhood Area Consultation | 17 April 2025 |
| Marina Village Residential Opportunity SPD | Habitat Regulations Assessment | 3 April 2025 |
| Local Plan | Call for Sites - Housing & Employment | 30 September 2024 |
| Local Plan | Call for Sites - Minerals | 30 September 2024 |
| Local Plan | Call for Sites - Waste | 30 September 2024 |
| Design Code | Early Engagement | 30 September 2024 |
| Marina Village Residential Opportunity SPD | Draft Stage | 19 September 2024 |
| Local Plan | Early Engagement | 9 September 2024 |
Other activities
Morecambe Bay Visitor Survey
Westmorland and Furness Council, Lancaster City Council, and Wyre Borough Council have recently commissioned Morecambe Bay Partnership to undertake visitor surveys across several locations around Morecambe Bay. Morecambe Bay is the largest intertidal area in the UK and is of international importance for the wildlife and habitats it supports, including breeding and overwintering water birds which can be susceptible to disturbance. One of the main sources of disturbance comes through increased recreational use. This is noted to be a key issue for Morecambe Bay with recreational pressure regularly highlighted as one of the main factors threatening this important protected environment.
To better understand this the three authorities require evidence to understand where visitors are coming from and the purpose of their visit. This work will be used to support the preparation of their Local Plans with the work being used to better understand how far people travel and the impact that new residential development may have on the Bay based on its distance from designated sites. The need to understand this is essential to the preparation of the Local Plan and will be a key source of information informing each Local Plan’s Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA).
The surveys, which will be undertaken face to face by Footprint Ecology, will be undertaken during two periods in October/November 2025 and January/February 2026.
If you have any queries please email them to localplan@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk