The Flood and Development Management Team responds to consultations on planning applications on behalf of the Council in its capacity as:

  • Local Highway Authority
  • Lead Local Flood Authority
  • Local Education Authority

The Council welcomes and encourages discussions before a developer submits a planning application to the relevant Local Planning Authority in respect of any proposals for 5 or more residential dwellings or commercial/industrial development.

Pre-planning application discussions can result in an improved application that is more likely to be approved. Developers have found the pre-application process can reduce overall costs by cutting down on further work and speeding-up the decision making process once an planning application has been submitted.

The advice can cover views and guidance on:

  • Suitability of highway access, layout and/or parking arrangements
  • Whether a drainage strategy or design is likely to be acceptable
  • The level of detail needed in documentation required to be submitted in support of a planning application - such as whether a Transport Note, Transport Statement, Transport Assessment and/or Travel Plan is required and the scope of its content
  • Whether a contribution towards highways, drainage or education infrastructure is likely to be required
  • Relevant standards and policies that should be applied

All requests for pre-application advice must be accompanied by a completed copy of the application form below (and the supporting documentation specified in the form):

The completed form and associated supporting documents should be sent to PreApp@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk

The charges for this service currently stand at:

£633.60 (inclusive of VAT) for major developments (which are defined as proposals for residential development of 21 or more residential dwellings and all forms of commercial/industrial development).

£315.60 (inclusive of VAT) for minor developments (which are defined as proposals for residential development of 5 to 20 dwellings).  

Please note that charges are reviewed annually and any alterations to their basis or increases are applied from the 1 April.

Once a fully supported request for advice has been received, the Council will arrange for an invoice to be issued.

Appendix 2 of the Cumbria Development Design Guide (PDF 279KB) sets out details of the standards of service and further information in respect of the pre-planning application advice process.