Moves to give communities more of a say in the future of two South Lakeland villages are going out to public consultation today.

South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) is launching a six-week consultation on the Allithwaite and Cartmel Neighbourhood Plan, from Thursday 2 February to Thursday 16 March 2023.

The document has been designed to help shape future development in the two villages and surrounding countryside by setting out the type of development the community would like to see in future.

The plan has been drawn up by Allithwaite and Cartmel Parish Council following consultation with local residents and businesses. The policies proposed in the plan include:

• All new dwellings in Cartmel village to be “principal residences” (occupied as sole or main home) to prevent them from becoming holiday/second homes
• Special green spaces and locally significant views to be protected
• New developments to be in keeping with local architectural styles and building materials
• New developments to enhance biodiversity, minimise light pollution and offer pedestrian and cycle links.

The parish council has formally submitted the plan to SLDC, and the district council is now launching a six-week public consultation to give people a final opportunity to make their comments. SLDC is seeking representations under Regulation 16 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012.

If no major changes or issues arise during the six-week period, the plan will go to an independent examiner, who will decide if it can proceed to a community referendum. A simple majority vote of more than 50 per cent would see the plan adopted. The referendum would be arranged by the new Westmorland and Furness Council, which is to take over all council services in South Lakeland district, Barrow borough and Eden district from 1 April 2023.

Councillor Helen Chaffey, SLDC Portfolio Holder for Housing, said: “Local knowledge is vitally important when it comes to deciding what should be built where, and what it should look like. This Neighbourhood Plan is about giving the people of Allithwaite and Cartmel much more of a say on the future of where they live and work. If approved, the policies contained in the plan will be used by the local planning authority to guide their decisions on future planning applications until 2032.

“The parish council has worked incredibly hard putting this document together and it encapsulates the views of residents and businesses about what is important to them – from protecting the countryside, green spaces and views, to ensuring that new-build homes reflect the parish’s character, are affordable for local people and help to mitigate the climate emergency in their design and construction.”

If adopted, the Neighbourhood Plan would be the third such plan to be made in South Lakeland outside the National Parks – following on from Hincaster and Heversham, and Grange-over-Sands.

The Allithwaite and Cartmel Neighbourhood Plan can be viewed online at www.southlakeland.gov.uk/allithwaite-cartmel-np and www.allithwaiteandcartmel-pc.gov.uk and at these locations during normal opening hours:

• Allithwaite Community Centre
• St Mary’s Church, Allithwaite
• Cartmel Priory
• Cartmel Village Hall
• Victoria Hall, Grange-over-Sands
• Ulverston Library
• Kendal Town Hall
• Kendal Library.

If you would like to make comments on the plan:

• Complete the online survey which can be found at southlakeland.gov.uk/allithwaite-cartmel-np
• Email plans@southlakeland.gov.uk
• Or write to the Senior Specialist Strategy Team, South Lakeland District Council, South Lakeland House, Lowther Street, Kendal LA9 4DL.