How many planning applications has Westmorland and Furness Council received?

Westmorland and Furness Council received 274 planning applications in the last 24 months. The approval rate is 94%.

How long does Westmorland and Furness Council take to decide planning applications?

Westmorland and Furness Council takes an average of 77 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 Westmorland and Furness Council?

Westmorland and Furness Council approves 94% of planning applications. The national average across England and Wales is approximately 87%.

How do I object to a planning application in Westmorland and Furness Council?

To object to a Westmorland and Furness Council planning application, you must submit your representation to Westmorland and Furness 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 Westmorland and Furness Council planning portal where objections can be submitted.

Can I appeal a Westmorland and Furness Council planning decision?

Yes. If Westmorland and Furness Council refuses your planning application, you can appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. 86 appeals were lodged against Westmorland and Furness Council decisions in the last 24 months, with a 24% success rate.

Westmorland and Furness Council Planning Applications

Q: How do I search Westmorland and Furness Council planning applications?

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

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

Region: North West

About Westmorland and Furness Council

Westmorland and Furness Council serves as the local authority for the Westmorland and Furness district in Cumbria, England. Established in 2023, this unitary authority combines the roles of both district and county councils, currently operating under a Liberal Democrat majority. The council's headquarters is located at the Town Hall and South Lakeland House in Kendal, with additional offices in Barrow-in-Furness and Penrith, making it well-positioned to assist with planning applications across the area.

Governance

Leader: Jonathan Brook (Liberal Democrats), since 1 April 2023

Chair: Doug Rathbone (Liberal Democrats), since 7 May 2025

Chief Executive: Sam Plum, since 31 December 2022

Seats: 65 councillors (term: 4 years)

Founded: 1 April 2023

Last election: 5 May 2022

Political composition: Liberal Democrat (36), Labour (15), Conservative (10), Green (1), Independent (3)

Council Planning Features

Planning Applications - Browse all applications submitted to Westmorland and Furness Council, filterable by status, type, and size
Planning Activity Summary - Approval rates, average decision times, and application type distribution for Westmorland and Furness Council
Keyword Scorecard - See how often applications in Westmorland and Furness 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 001C

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 Westmorland and Furness 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 Westmorland and Furness Council based on the last 24 months of planning data.

Towns and villages in Westmorland and Furness Council

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

Flood Risk

No active flood warnings in the Westmorland and Furness Council area.

Monitoring Stations

10 flood monitoring stations near Westmorland and Furness 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 Westmorland and Furness Council

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

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

Conservation Areas

There are 28 designated conservation areas within the Westmorland and Furness 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: Appleby, Church Brough, King's Meaburn, Milburn, Alston, Kirkby Stephen, Penrith New Streets, Gamblesby, Kirkoswald, Temple Sowerby, and 18 more.

Ecology & Nature Designations

The Westmorland and Furness 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 Westmorland and Furness Council Planning Applications

Planning Signal provides a free, fast planning search for Westmorland and Furness Council. Use the postcode search above to find planning applications near any address in the Westmorland and Furness Council area. Unlike the official Westmorland and Furness 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 Westmorland and Furness 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 Westmorland and Furness Council.

Planning Activity

In the last 24 months, 274 planning applications Westmorland and Furness Council received. Of these, 94% were approved, with an average decision time of 77 days.

This is notably above the national average of approximately 87%, suggesting a relatively permissive planning environment. Applicants in Westmorland and Furness Council may find that well-prepared applications have a strong chance of success.

The average decision period of 77 days exceeds the 8-week target for minor applications but falls within the 13-week target for major schemes. Applicants should plan for approximately 11 weeks from submission to decision.

The most common application types in Westmorland and Furness Council were amendments (39), discharge of conditions (28), outline applications (27).

In terms of development scale, 2 large-scale (major) developments, 4 medium-scale applications, 41 smaller schemes were submitted.

86 planning appeals were lodged against Westmorland and Furness Council decisions, of which 16 were allowed and 51 were dismissed (24% success rate). This low success rate indicates that the council's refusal decisions are generally upheld by the Planning Inspectorate.

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.