How many planning applications has Cumberland Council received?

Cumberland Council received 1,511 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 92%.

How long does Cumberland Council take to decide planning applications?

Cumberland Council takes an average of 64 days to decide planning applications. The statutory target is 8 weeks (56 days) for householder and minor applications, and 13 weeks for major applications.

What is the planning approval rate for Cumberland Council?

Cumberland Council approves 92% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

How do I search Cumberland Council planning applications?

You can search Cumberland Council planning applications by postcode on Planning Signal. Enter any postcode in the Cumberland Council area to see all nearby applications, filter by type, and track decisions in real time.

How do I object to a planning application in Cumberland Council?

To object to a Cumberland Council planning application, you must submit your representation to Cumberland Council during the public consultation period — typically 21 days from the date the application was publicised. Planning Signal shows you the consultation deadline for each application and links directly to the Cumberland Council planning portal where objections can be submitted.

Can I appeal a Cumberland Council planning decision?

Yes. If Cumberland Council refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 51 appeals were lodged against Cumberland Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 21% success rate.

Cumberland Council Planning Applications

Search and explore Cumberland Council planning applications. Planning Signal is your free alternative to the Cumberland Council planning portal — search all recent applications, track decisions, and get alerts on new developments in the area.

Region: North West

About Cumberland Council

Cumberland Council serves as the local authority for the Cumberland district in Cumbria, England. Established in 2023, it operates as a unitary authority, combining the roles of both district and county councils, and has been under Labour majority control since its inception. Full council meetings typically take place at the Carlisle Civic Centre, with main administrative functions based at Cumbria House in Carlisle, making it a key player in local planning applications and governance.

Governance

Leader: Mark Fryer (Labour), since 1 April 2023

Chair: Andrew Semple (Labour), since 15 May 2024

Chief Executive: Andrew Seekings, since 31 December 2022

Seats: 46 councillors (term: 4 years (from 2027))

Founded: 1 April 2023

Last election: 5 May 2022

Political composition: Labour (26), Conservative (8), Liberal Democrats (4), Green (3), Independent (5)

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Cumberland Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Cumberland Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Cumberland Council mention key planning constraints like heritage, flood risk, and environmental concerns
Council Boundary Map - Interactive map showing the council boundary and application locations
Full Details - View complete application details, dates and decision status

Council Insights

Property Prices

Average property sale price: £546,864 (based on 50 recent transactions from HM Land Registry).

Area Information

Admin district: Westmorland and Furness
Parliamentary constituency: Westmorland and Lonsdale
LSOA: South Lakeland 001A

Crime Statistics

29 crimes reported in 2026-05.

Crime Breakdown

violent-crime: 14
criminal-damage-arson: 3
drugs: 3
other-theft: 3
public-order: 3
vehicle-crime: 2
robbery: 1

Keyword Scorecard

Planning constraint analysis based on the last 24 months of applications in Cumberland Council.

Ecology & Wildlife Constraints (keywords: bats, bat survey, bat roost, great crested newt, GCN...)
Trees & Landscape (keywords: tree preservation order, TPO, arboricultural, tree survey, root protection area...)
Flood & Drainage (keywords: flood zone 2, flood zone 3, flood risk assessment, FRA, surface water...)
Heritage & Conservation (keywords: listed building, grade II, grade II*, grade I, conservation area...)
Green Belt (keywords: green belt, inappropriate development, very special circumstances, openness)
Highways & Access (keywords: visibility splays, highway authority objection, access arrangement, parking provision, transport statement...)
Refusal & Risk Indicators (keywords: refusal, delegated refusal, appeal dismissed, overdevelopment, character and appearance...)
Planning Process & Appeals (keywords: appeal lodged, appeal allowed, appeal dismissed, public inquiry, inspector)

Planning Activity Summary

Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Cumberland Council based on the last 24 months of planning data.

Towns and villages in Cumberland Council

1085 towns and villages. Click any town to search for planning applications nearby.

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Cumberland Council area.

Monitoring Stations

10 flood monitoring stations near Cumberland Council.

Far Sawrey (Windermere)
Miller Bridge House (River Rothay)
Jeffy Knotts (River Brathay)
Calgarth (Trout Beck)
Rainfall station
Rainfall station
Rainfall station
Rainfall station
Staveley Village (River Gowan)
Rainfall station

A brief summary of Cumberland Council

The average property sale price in the Cumberland Council area is £546,864, based on 50 recent transactions.

There were 29 crimes reported in the Cumberland Council area during the most recent period, a moderate level broadly in line with similar areas.

Conservation Areas

There are 48 designated conservation areas within the Cumberland Council area. Planning applications within or near these areas are subject to additional scrutiny to preserve architectural and historic character. Permitted development rights may be restricted.

Conservation areas include: Whitehaven Corkickle, Whitehaven Hensingham, Cleator Moor, Egremont, Beckermet, Millom, Chatsworth Square and Portland Square, Holme Head, Victoria Road, Botcherby, Wood Street, Botcherby, and 38 more.

Ecology & Nature Designations

The Cumberland Council area includes 1 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI): Loughrigg Fell Flushes SSSI; 14 Ancient Woodland sites; 1 National Parks: LAKE DISTRICT. These designations may affect planning decisions, as proposals near protected sites require environmental impact assessment and may face additional restrictions.

The council area encompasses 1085 towns and villages, including Ambleside, Appleby-in-Westmorland, Barrow-In-Furness, Bowness-On-Windermere, Carlisle and Cleator Moor. Planning applications across these communities can be searched using the postcode search above.

Search Cumberland Council Planning Applications

Planning Signal provides a free, fast planning search for Cumberland Council. Use the postcode search above to find planning applications near any address in the Cumberland Council area. Unlike the official Cumberland Council planning portal, Planning Signal lets you save searches, watch individual applications, and receive email alerts when decisions are made or new applications are submitted nearby.

Whether you're a resident checking Cumberland Council planning applications near your home, a homeowner tracking your own application, or a property professional monitoring the local market, Planning Signal gives you the tools to stay informed about planning and development across Cumberland Council.

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 1,511 planning applications Cumberland Council received. Of these, 92% were approved, with an average decision time of 64 days.

This is slightly above the national average of approximately 87%, indicating a broadly favourable planning environment in Cumberland Council.

At 64 days on average, decisions in Cumberland Council slightly exceed the 8-week statutory target for minor applications, though this is common across many councils.

The most common application types in Cumberland Council were full planning applications (474), discharge of conditions (221), outline applications (193). Full planning applications account for 31% of all submissions, covering new builds, change of use, and works that go beyond permitted development rights.

In terms of development scale, 14 large-scale (major) developments, 161 medium-scale applications, 1,318 smaller schemes were submitted. The high volume of major applications indicates significant development pressure in the area, which may interest property developers and investors.

51 planning appeals were lodged against Cumberland Council decisions, of which 8 were allowed and 30 were dismissed (21% success rate). This low success rate indicates that the council's refusal decisions are generally upheld by the Planning Inspectorate.

Application Outcomes

Approved: 864 applications
Refused: 8 applications
Withdrawn: 66 applications
Awaiting decision: 573 applications

Related Planning Guides

What Is Planning Permission in the UK? — Planning permission is the formal approval you need from your local council before making certain changes to a building or piece of land.
What Is Permitted Development? — Permitted development rights allow certain building works and changes of use without the need to apply for planning permission.
How Long Does Planning Permission Take? — Typical timelines for planning permission decisions in the UK, from submission to approval, and what can cause delays.