& Alterations (Final Composite Plan) This document combines the South Lakeland Local Plan (adopted in 1997) and the Alterations to the Local Plan (adopted in March 2006) Peter Ridgway Strategic Director Customer Services Published May 2007 T he South Lakeland Local Plan and Alterations (Final Composite Plan) March 2007) brings together in a single document: • the South Lakeland Local Plan, adopted in 1997 • the Alterations to the Local Plan, adopted in March 2006 All three documents and further information on the Local Plan can be viewed or downloaded from the Council's website at PREFACE www.southlakeland.gov.uk/Default.aspx?page=48 PREFACE This combined document brings together the relevant polices and supporting text from both the South Lakeland Local Plan and Local Plan Alterations for the convenience of readers, who previously had to refer to two separate documents. It is important to note that the Council has not amended the contents of either document - both of which contain references, which while correct at the time of their respective adoptions, but may now be dated. The Local Plan policies and text which have been added or altered (in whole or part) through the Local Plan Alterations are shown within grey shaded boxes. The Development Plan The South Lakeland Local Plan and Alterations to the Local Plan form part of the statutory Development Plan for South Lakeland District, outside the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. It sets out land use policies to guide new development through granting of planning permission. The Development Plan also comprises the Cumbria and Lake District Joint Structure Plan, adopted in April 2006. The 2004 Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act introduced a new planning system, under which the Local Plan will be replaced by a Local Development Framework (LDF). For further information on the South Lakeland LDF contact http://www.southlakeland.gov.uk/ldf The Council intends to request the Secretary of State to save the local plan policies, under provisions in the 2004 Act, until they are replaced by policies in the Local Development Framework. Also under the new Planning system, the North West Regional Assembly's emerging Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) will replace the Cumbria Joint Structure Plan. PETER RIDGWAY Strategic Director Customer Services Written and prepared by the: Development Plans Team Regeneration & Housing Services South Lakeland District Council South Lakeland House Lowther Street KENDAL Cumbria LA9 4DL Final Composite Plan published May 2007 T “ here is no corner of England more crowded with history and legend, perhaps no stretch of FOREWORD FOREWORD countryside better known to the holiday-maker, with FOREWORD FOREWORD the country's largest lake, some of our most notable mountains and a literary tradition built on man's search for natural beauty and contentment, and no area in greater need of constant vigilance and safeguarding if its treasures are to remain unspoiled. Those of us who have the good fortune to live and work in the district of South Lakeland will always be proud of our heritage for as the poet said: "I dream that heaven is very like this land, mountains and lakes and rivers undecaying, and simple woodlands and wild cherry flowers...." ” Harry Griffin M P JAYNE BA DMS MRTPI Director of Amenities and Development Written and prepared by the: Economy and Development Group Directorate of Amenities and Development South Lakeland District Council South Lakeland House Lowther Street KENDAL Cumbria LA9 4DL Adopted Sept 1997 Published February 1998 CONTENTS CONTENTS Introduction . .1 Chapter 1 : Housing . .9 Chapter 2 : Employment . .21 Chapter 3 : Retail . .29 Chapter 4 : Tourism . .39 Chapter 5 : Environment and Conservation . .47 Chapter 6 : Leisure and Recreation . .75 Chapter 7 : Transport . .83 Chapter 8 : Standards for New Development . .95 Implementation, Monitoring and Review . .115 The Local Plan policies and text that have been added or altered (in whole or part) through the Local Plan Alterations are shown with grey shading behind the relevant text. INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION The Local Plan in Context . .1 The Local Plan Process . .2 Contents of the Plan . .2 LOCAL PLAN POLICIES . .2 Guiding Principles . .3 A Strategy for South Lakeland . .4 THE LOCAL ECONOMY . .4 HOUSING ISSUES . .4 PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT . .5 TRENDS IN RETAILING . .5 CATERING FOR VISITORS . .6 MANAGING TRAFFIC . .6 PROVIDING COMMUNITY FACILITIES . .6 THE DISTRIBUTION OF NEW DEVELOPMENT . .6 AN APPROACH TO DEVELOPMENT IN KENDAL . .7 DEVELOPMENT IN ULVERSTON . .8 DEVELOPMENT IN THE LARGER TOWNS AND VILLAGES . .8 The Local Plan policies and text that have been added or altered (in whole or part) through the Local Plan Alterations are shown with grey shading behind the relevant text. INTRODUCTION centres. Added to this there are all sorts of ``external’’ pressures and changes taking place; people are living for longer, retiring from work earlier and enjoying more leisure time. They expect to travel more often and take second holidays and weekend breaks. Home and car ownership are still growing, the average household size is decreasing, divorce and marital separation are on the increase. All of these trends will have a significant influence on land use and development pressures in South Lakeland over the next decade. 5 Of course the Local Plan should not simply accept changes and new trends unwittingly and succumb to every form of development pressure. The high quality landscape and environment of the area must be cherished and protected from the damaging effects of development. 1 This Local Plan has been prepared by the District But we must recognise that change will continue to take Council to guide development and the use of land in place and can indeed be both necessary and desirable. South Lakeland between 1996 and 2006. The Local Plan The crucial role of the Local Plan is to control change and covers the whole of the District outside the Lake District ensure that the development which does take place is in and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. It shows where the right place and of the right quality. development can take place, what sort of development is expected and the standards it must reach. It also protects the high quality environment and landscape, the character The Local Plan in Context and heritage of the District and seeks to protect important open spaces in settlements from "town-cramming” 6 The Local Plan cannot be prepared in isolation by development. It must balance the needs and demands of the District Council. It must be consistent with policies conservation and development in one of the most and plans that are prepared at a National, Regional and beautiful parts of the country - no easy task! County level. 2 The Local Plan is a crucial document for South (1) The Government sets out national planning policy Lakeland. It has been prepared to meet the statutory in Planning Policy Guidance Notes, Circulars and requirements of the Planning and Compensation Act Ministerial Statements. These have been taken into 1991. When formally adopted it will carry considerable account in drawing up this Plan. weight in decisions about how and where development can take place over the next ten years. The Council and (2) Broadly based Regional Planning Guidance has the Department of the Environment will use it as the main been drafted up by the Government Office for the influence in arriving at planning decisions for the area - North West. unless there are other clear and overriding material considerations. (3) Strategic Planning Policy for Cumbria is set out in the Cumbria and Lake District Joint Structure Plan. 3 South Lakeland is an area of natural beauty, which This sets out the broad levels of growth and change in is relatively free of urban problems, traffic congestion or the County as a whole for the 1991-2006 period but environmental blight. There is obviously a temptation to does not identify specific sites for development. The try and keep everything exactly as it is - to put a stop to Local Plan has been prepared to complement the new development, to ``preserve’’ the villages and the Structure Plan and apply the strategy at a local level countryside and to limit the influx of, and wear and tear (Structure Plan policies are listed in Appendix J). caused by, visitors. But there are many reasons why this would be inappropriate. 7 The Development Plan for the area comprises the Structure Plan, South Lakeland Local Plan and the 4 South Lakeland has a living and working Cumbria Minerals and Waste Local Plan. The Local Plan community with needs and expectation for change - it will for South Lakeland supersedes the South Westmorland require new (affordable) homes and places of work, it Local Plan, the Cartmel and Furness Local Plan and the wants access to modern shopping and leisure facilities, it informal Caravan and Camping Subject Plan for South expects to be able to travel by car and park easily in town Lakeland. However, many of the relevant policies from South Lakeland Local Plan 2006 & Alterations : Final Composite Plan : March 2007 page 1 INTRODUCTION these plans which have proved to be useful and effective 11 The process of preparing and revising a Local in controlling development have been carried forward into Plan is a long one but is intended to make sure that the South Lakeland Local Plan. everyone who wants to comment can do so and that their views will be heard and properly dealt with. 8 The Plan has been prepared to guide the work of the District Council corporately. Other Council strategies and policy documents have been considered during its Contents of the Plan preparation. These include the Housing Strategy and 12 There are two main parts to the Local Plan: Investment Programme, the Economic Development Strategy and Action Plan, the Tourism and Leisure The Written Statement contains the land-use Strategies for South Lakeland and the Council’s policies of the District Council, together with the Environmental Objectives.