Planning Policy Introduction
Welcome to the Planning Policy Pages of the Copeland Borough Council website.
For Current Consultations and Recent Publications, please visit our Consultation webpage.
Latest news
Local Development Scheme
The Local Development Scheme (LDS) is the formal work programme which sets out the documents that will be produced to form the Local Plan for Copeland (excluding the area within the Lake District National Park).
It provides the starting point for the local community to find out what the current planning policies are for the area and sets out the programme for the preparation of Local Development Documents (LDDs) to replace existing Local Plan policies.
Cumberland Council approved an updated Local Development Scheme in March 2024
Monitoring
Copeland Monitoring Page
Development Plan Documents
The Local Development Framework contains a portfolio of Local Development Documents (LDDs). Local Development Documents are generally Development Plan Documents (DPDs) or Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs).
Supplementary Planning Documents
The Local Development Framework contains a portfolio of Local Development Documents (LDDs). Local Development Documents are generally Development Plan Documents (DPDs) or Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs).
Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) cover a range of issues and provide further explanation or detail as to how a policy in a Development Plan Document (DPD)should be implemented. SPDs are consulted on in draft form but are not subject to independent examination.
SPDs will be a material consideration in making decisions on planning applications and will therefore carry significant weight in decision-making.
Statement of Community Involvement
Copeland Borough Council adopted its Revised Statement of Community Involvement in August 2020.
Pow Beck Development Brief SPD
In January 2008, Copeland Borough Council adopted a Pow Beck Valley Development Brief and Sustainability Appraisal Report. The SPD refers to the Pow Beck Valley in Whitehaven. The document has been produced to assist the regeneration of this area. The SPD seeks to inform developers and other interested parties of the constraints and opportunities presented by the Pow Beck Valley area, and indicate the type of development expected by the Council.
Cumbria Wind Energy SPD
The Cumbria Wind Energy Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) was produced in partnership with Cumbrian Local Authorities and formally adopted by the local planning authorities in Allerdale, Carlisle, Copeland, Eden, South Lakeland and the Lake District National Park. It provides locational guidance for wind farm developments. This SPD was adopted in January 2008.
Local Plan Preferred Options
Welcome to the Local Plan Preferred Options Draft page
The following short video introduces the Local Plan Preferred Options Draft.
If you would like any further information, please either e-mail us: LocalPlanConsultation@copeland.gov.uk or telephone us on 01946 59 8300.
Planning Contributions SPD
The Council has analysed Copeland’s infrastructure and is determining the priorities for improving it. (Infrastructure includes not only the physical infrastructure - such as transport, energy and water supply, drainage – but also social and environmental assets - such as sports facilities, community halls and open space). This SPD will set out those priorities as a basis for negotiating planning contributions from developers, so that new development helps to meet the impacts which it has on the Borough. The SPD will also inform negotiations with the developers of the proposed nuclear power station to secure the investment needed to make sure that benefits to the community of nuclear new build are optimised. The Council may decide to adopt a Community Infrastructure Levy, which would be a tariff potentially on all development. The SPD cannot do this and any proposal for a levy would be in a separate document subject to separate consultation and independent public examination.
