We are working in partnership with the Lake District National Park Authority and the Cumbria District and Borough Councils to produce county wide Supplementary Planning Documents.  These will provide guidance to help developers put together development proposals and support the policies and proposals of the emerging Local Development Frameworks.  The Cumbria Wind Energy Supplementary Planning Document is adopted.  In March 2008 work commenced on producing county wide landscape character guidance.  This will be developed further in time to produce landscape character SPD.

Cumbria Wind Energy Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)

Cumbria County Council and the local planning authorities in Allerdale, Carlisle, Copeland, Eden, South Lakeland and the Lake District National Park have produced guidance to help decide where wind farms might be built.  This is available to download below.

Why do we need guidance on wind farms?

Wind farms are becoming part of our landscape. Their numbers across Cumbria and the country have grown substantially over the last ten years.  As the Government wants the UK to generate more of its energy from sustainable sources, to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions and combat climate change, the trend is likely to continue.

How has the guidance been produced?

Public consultation was carried out in Autumn 2006.  We had a very positive response to this and 529 issues were raised by 151 organisations and individuals.  The comments we received and the resulting changes made to the SPD are summarised in the Statement of Consultation Responses document that can be downloaded below.

Adopting the SPD

The revised SPD was adopted by the Allerdale, Copeland, Eden and South Lakeland Councils and the Lake District National Park Authority between September and January 2008.  It was adopted by Carlisle City Council in September 2008.

As part of the formal adoption process Adoption Statements need to be published along with the SPD.  Adoption Statements can be downloaded below for Allerdale, Carlisle, Copeland, Eden and South Lakeland Councils and the Lake District National Park Authority.  Barrow Borough Council may adopt the document in the future.

The document is approved by Cumbria County Council as a county wide strategic planning document.

Where is the SPD available?

The Adopted SPD can be downloaded below, along with its associated consultation and other documents.  These replace the adoption draft SPD that was available on this website between July and 19 December 2007.

If you would like to purchase a copy of the Cumbria Wind Energy Supplementary Planning Document (£15.00) or the associated documents comprising the Statement of Consultation Responses, Habitats Regulations Assessment and Sustainability Appraisal (£7.50) please send a cheque made payable to Cumbria County Council to Hazel Hayton Swindle, County Offices, Kendal, LA9 4RQ.

Hard copies of the document are available in all Cumbrian libraries and the main offices of the Local Planning Authorities.