Consultations

How to get involved

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Active Consultations

Draft Arnside and Silverdale National Landscape Management Plan 2026- 2031 Public Consultation

A new Management Plan for the National Landscape for the period 2026-2031 is being prepared. This new Draft Management Plan sets out how we can all work together to conserve, enhance and connect people to the National Landscape, to ensure it remains a beautiful place where people and nature thrive together. The Draft Management Plan takes account of consultations carried out in 2024 and 2025 and is now available for formal public consultation.

Please share your views on the Draft Management Plan and supporting documents

Upcoming Consultations

Draft Central Barrow Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan Consultation

20 October - 30 November

Westmorland and Furness Council are preparing a Character Area Appraisal and Management Plan (CAAMP) for the Central Barrow Conservation Area as part of their statutory duty to preserve and enhance the heritage asset. Before the Character Appraisal and Management Plan is adopted as planning policy guidance we are undertaking a public consultation to seek your views. As part of the consultation, public drop-in sessions will be held at Barrow Library on 4 November.

Draft Penrith Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan Consultation

20 October - 30 November

Westmorland and Furness Council are preparing a Character Area Appraisal and Management Plan (CAAMP) for Penrith Conservation Area as part of their statutory duty to preserve and enhance the heritage asset. Before the Character Appraisal and Management Plan is adopted as planning policy guidance we are undertaking a public consultation to seek your views. As part of the consultation, public drop-in sessions will be held at Penrith Parish Rooms on 4 November.

Design Code Draft Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) Consultation

23 October - 7 December

Westmorland and Furness Council is in the process of preparing a Design Code Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)for the Westmorland and Furness Local Authority area excluding the Lake District National Park and the Yorkshire Dales National Park. A Draft SPD will be consulted on between 23 October to 7 December. As part of the consultation a series of public drop in events will be held enabling people to find out more about the SPD. Once adopted the SPD will be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications.

Past Consultations

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