Planning authority
Cumberland Council
Former districts' plans still apply; plan in preparation: getting started.
- Plan over 5 years old
Adopted plan
No plan for the whole council yet: each former district's plan still applies to its own area.
| Allerdale Borough Council | Allerdale Local Plan (Part 1), adopted 16 July 2014 (12.3 years) |
| Carlisle City Council | Local Plan 2013-2030, adopted 8 November 2016 (9.9 years) |
| Copeland Borough Council | Copeland Local Plan 2021-2039, adopted 5 November 2024 (1.9 years) |
Plan in preparation
| Plan | Cumberland Local Plan |
| Stage | Getting started |
| Latest event | Scoping consultation started, 14 September 2026 |
| Next dated event | Scoping consultation ended, 23 October 2026 |
| Council's page | The plan in preparation |
From the national planning data platform, which can lag behind the council. Known gaps
Housing Delivery Test
Measured for each of the former districts that make up the council, in the 2025 table:
| Allerdale Borough | 431% |
| Carlisle | 222% |
| Copeland Borough Council | 11375% |
Applications
| Period | July 2025 to June 2026 |
| Received | 1,260 |
| Decided | 1,163 |
| Granted | 1,102 (95%; England 87%) |
| Refused | 61 |
| Major applications decided | 47, of which 45 granted |
| Quarter | Received | Decided | Granted | Refused |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July to September 2025 | 327 | 251 | 237 | 14 |
| October to December 2025 | 291 | 290 | 279 | 11 |
| January to March 2026 | 336 | 285 | 270 | 15 |
| April to June 2026 | 306 | 337 | 316 | 21 |
Appeals
| Decided | 1 September 2021 to 28 August 2026 |
| Planning appeals | 83: 25 allowed, 1 split, 57 dismissed |
| Householder appeals | 24: 6 allowed, 0 split, 18 dismissed |
| Allowed in full or in part | 30% (England 32%) |
Latest planning appeals
| Decided | Site | Development | Procedure | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 August 2026 | Former Gardens to Knells House, The Knells, CARLISLE, Cumbria, CA6 4JG Application 24/0230 | Minor Dwellings, 6 homes | Written Representations | Dismissed |
| 21 August 2026 | The Joiners Arms, Church Street, Carlisle, CA2 5TF Application 26/0177 | Other minor developments | Written Representations | Allowed |
| 28 July 2026 | Swinsty Farm, Abbeytown, Wigton, CA7 4TP Application FUL/2025/0009 | Other minor developments | Written Representations | Allowed |
| 29 June 2026 | Arlecdon Hill Farm, Arlecdon, Frizington, Cumbria, CA26 3UW Application 4/23/2387/OF1 | Minor Dwellings, 1 home | Hearing | Dismissed |
| 11 May 2026 | Scalegill Hall Farm, Scalegill Road, Moor Row, Cumbria, CA24 3JY Application 4/25/2120/0F1 | Major dwellings, 2 homes | Written Representations | Dismissed |
| 17 April 2026 | Land adjacent to Birch Head Bungalow, Milton, Brampton, Cumbria, CA8 1HY Application 25/0225 | Minor Dwellings, 1 home | Written Representations | Dismissed |
| 5 March 2026 | Land to the east of The Nook, School Road, Cumwhinton, Carlisle, CA4 8DU Application 25/0314 | Minor Dwellings, 1 home | Written Representations | Dismissed |
| 24 February 2026 | THROSTLE NEST INN, KING STREET, WIGTON, Cumbria, CA7 9EP Application FUL/2025/0046 | Minor retail and services | Written Representations | Dismissed |
| 11 February 2026 | Land to the south of Grange House , Aaronstown Lonning, BRAMPTON, CA8 1QR Application 25/0069 | Unknown | Written Representations | Allowed |
| 22 December 2025 | Hazel Gill Farm, Welton, CARLISLE, CA5 7HJ Application FUL/2025/0072 | Other minor developments | Written Representations | Dismissed |
Each outcome links to the case on the Planning Inspectorate's site, where the decision letter is published.
Changes recorded
- 17 October 2026 Housing Delivery Test: measured by former district
- 17 October 2026 Records added late or corrected (not new this week): adopted plan now shown as Former districts' plans (date of adoption not recorded)