Local Plan

The Local Plan sets out the land‑use and planning policies for Cumberland over a set period of time. It guides the amount, type and location of new development and helps us plan for current and future needs. This includes:

• housing of all types
• new and improved infrastructure
• identifying employment land
• protecting and enhancing the environment

Once adopted, the Local Plan becomes part of the statutory development plan and is the main policy document used to decide local planning applications.

We are progressing work on a new Cumberland Local Plan. This plan will replace the former District Council Local Plans and the former County Council Minerals and Waste Local Plan with a single new plan.

We inherited the adopted Local Plan documents from the former councils, including the Cumbria Minerals and Waste Local Plan. These documents continue to apply in the relevant former council areas until they are replaced by the new Cumberland Local Plan.

All current and emerging Local Plans and supporting documents are listed in the Cumberland consolidated policy document.

Local Development Scheme

The Local Development Scheme (LDS) sets out the timetable for preparing Development Plan Documents and supporting documents. The latest Local Development Scheme was approved in March 2025.

Issues and options consultation

The issues and options consultation is the first stage of preparing the new Cumberland Local Plan.

You can take part and share your views.

Have your say on the Cumberland Local Plan

Call for sites

We have launched a Call for Sites to give landowners, developers, site promoters, parish and town councils, and members of the public the opportunity to suggest land that could help meet local needs.

Full details, including how to submit a site, are available on the Cumberland Council Consultations website.