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Planning policy: Carlisle

Former Carlisle planning policies.

Cumberland Council inherited the local development plan documents of each of the former Councils including the Cumbria Minerals and Waste Local Plan documents.  These documents will continue to be used, in the relevant former Council areas, to decide planning applications until they are replaced by new Cumberland Local Plan documents.

The reports are PDF files and may not be suitable for assistive technology.

Carlisle District Local Plan 2015 to 2030

The Carlisle District Local Plan 2015 to 2030 sets out the planning policies we use to assess planning applications across the district. It also identifies land for development, including housing, and sets the strategic vision for growth over a 15 year period.

The plan was adopted on 8 November 2016.

Access the Local Plan and policies map

You can purchase hard copies of the Local Plan and policies map. To order copies, contact the policy team.

Email: [email protected]

Charges for documents

Prices for printed documents are:

  • Local Plan document: £15 (plus £3 postage and packing, if required)
  • policies map: £30 (plus £1.50 postage and packing, if required)

Postage and packing is free if you collect the documents from the Civic Centre in Carlisle.

Five year review of the Local Plan

We are required to review the Local Plan five years after adoption.

The review started in November 2021 and has now been completed. A full review statement is available as part of the Carlisle District Local Plan 2015 to 2030 documents.

Evidence base

The Carlisle District Local Plan 2015 to 2030 supporting documents and evidence base.

Carlisle city centre development framework

The Carlisle City Centre Development Framework sets out how development in the city centre will be guided up to 2030.

The framework was produced for Carlisle City Council and published in March 2015.

Background

Public consultation took place in 2013 and 2014 to help shape the framework. This included identifying key character areas, such as Caldew Riverside, the Citadel and Rickergate, and gathering feedback on options for development.

Technical work, including design and transport analysis, and feedback from residents, landowners and council officers, was used to finalise the framework.

What the framework covers

The framework sets out proposed changes and opportunities across the city centre, including:

  • areas where development and regeneration are most likely
  • potential uses for different parts of the city centre
  • how and when development could take place

It also considers how additional retail space could be provided in line with earlier retail studies.

You can download the development framework and supporting documents below:

Local Plan viability study

The Local Plan viability study assesses whether planning requirements in Carlisle are realistic and deliverable.

HDH Planning and Development Ltd was appointed to review sites and policies in the Local Plan. This includes looking at:

  • the level of affordable housing expected from developments
  • other planning requirements placed on developers
  • whether these requirements affect the ability to deliver development

What the study shows

The study provides an overview of viability across different types of development. It uses a strategic model to assess general trends, rather than detailed analysis of individual sites or projects.

Where potential viability issues are identified, the Council can use this information to review planning policies and consider further research.

Housing evidence

Transport evidence

Other evidence documents

Built and natural environment evidence

Built and natural environment documents

Employment evidence

Heritage evidence

Retail evidence

Open spaces evidence

Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs)

Supplementary Planning Documents provide additional guidance to support policies in the adopted Carlisle District Local Plan 2015 to 2030. We use them when assessing planning applications. SPDs are prepared in consultation with local communities and align with national planning policy. Once adopted, they are a material consideration in planning decisions.

Adopted supplementary planning documents

St Cuthbert’s Strategic Design SPD

The St Cuthbert’s Strategic Design SPD supports the delivery of St Cuthbert’s Garden Village, with good design embedded from the earliest stages of development.

We adopted this SPD on 6 April 2021.

It sets out design and environmental standards for development within the garden village and supports planning negotiations and decision‑making. The guidance builds on policies in the Carlisle District Local Plan 2015 to 2030 and relevant national planning guidance.

Documents:

Affordable and specialist housing SPD

We adopted the Affordable and Specialist Housing SPD on 12 February 2018.

This SPD provides additional detail to support the following Local Plan policies:

  • HO4 – affordable housing
  • HO10 – housing to meet specific needs

Documents:

Neighbourhood development plans

Neighbourhood development plans allow local communities to shape development in their area. Once adopted, they are part of the development plan and are used when we assess planning applications within the neighbourhood plan area.

Neighbourhood Development Plans application forms:

Adopted neighbourhood development plans

Dalston Parish Neighbourhood Plan

The Dalston Parish Neighbourhood Plan was adopted following a local referendum held on 22 February 2018, where more than half of voters supported the plan.

We now use the plan to inform planning decisions within Dalston Parish.

The plan and supporting documents are available to download. Copies can also be viewed at the Civic Centre in Carlisle and at Carlisle Central Library during normal opening hours.

Dalston Parish Parish Neighbourhood Plan: Evidence Base

Annual Monitoring Reports

We publish an annual monitoring report to meet our duties under the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 and subsequent amendments.

The report tracks progress on planning policies, including housing delivery and employment land, and monitors our performance against the Local Development Scheme. Each report covers the financial year before publication.

Carlisle Annual Monitoring Reports

Five Year Housing Land Supply Reports

The Five Year Land Supply reports set out the council's position with regards to demonstrating a five year supply of deliverable housing land.

Five Year Housing Land Supply Reports

Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessments (SHLAA)

The Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment identifies land with the potential to be used for housing development. It forms part of the evidence base used to inform site allocations and strategic planning policies.

The assessment considers whether sites are suitable, available and deliverable to help meet housing needs over the plan period and beyond.

The inclusion of a site in the assessment does not mean it will be allocated or granted planning permission. The assessment is an evidence‑gathering exercise only.

Consultation and updates

We consulted on the assessment between August and September 2014. It has since been updated to reflect comments received and changes to site information.

If you need more information about the assessment, contact the planning policy team.

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 01228 817 192

Infrastructure Funding Statement

The objective of an IFS is to improve transparency of monitoring and reporting so that monies secured, received, allocated, spent and delivered can be followed through the system.

Authorities must publish an Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) by the 31 December 2020 to cover the reporting year for 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2020 and annually thereafter.