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 Local Plan consultation database to receive email updates about any future consultations on our Local Plan and other planning policy documents.  

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

Past consultations

Document nameConsultation / StageClosing Data
Sockbridge and Tirril Neighbourhood PlanNeighbourhood Area Consultation17 April 2025
Marina Village Residential Opportunity SPDHabitat Regulations Assessment 3 April 2025
Local PlanCall for Sites - Housing & Employment30 September 2024
Local PlanCall for Sites - Minerals30 September 2024
Local PlanCall for Sites - Waste30 September 2024
Design CodeEarly Engagement30 September 2024
Marina Village Residential Opportunity SPD Draft Stage19 September 2024
Local PlanEarly Engagement9 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