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After you apply

What happens after you submit your application, including the costs.

After you submit your application, there are 3 more stages.

Full details are available in our guide to brown and white tourist signs (PDF, 8.2MB).

Stage 1

We will assess your application, to see if you are eligible for a tourist sign. We will then contact you to let you know whether you can continue with your application.

If you want to continue with your application, we will send you a stage 1 initial assessment form to sign and return. 

Stage 2

Stage 2 starts with you signing a private works agreement and paying a fee of £200.

Next our officers will:

  • visit the site
  • draft sign designs
  • draw up location plans
  • estimate total costs

They will also consult with:

  • district, town and parish councils
  • National Park authorities, if needed
  • local county councillors
  • CONNECT Roads, if signing relates to A594, A595 (Peter Lane to A66 Fitz Cottage Roundabout), A6071, A7 (M6 Junction 44 to Scottish Border)
  • Cumbria Tourism 

Objections

If there are any unresolved objections, we will take a report to the relevant Cumbria County Council Local Committee Area. Local councillors will then make the final decision on whether to permit your application.

If there are no unresolved objections, your applications will move to stage 3. 

Stage 3

In stage 3, you have two options.

Option 3A - we do the design work and you use our contractor

In option 3A, we do all the detailed design work. There is a minimum fee for this for work, and the final fee depends on the size of the scheme. Our estimated fee is £500.

We will ask our contractor for the costs of making and installing the sign.

Option 3B - someone else does the design work and you use another contractor 

In option 3B, you can ask another design consultant to carry out the detailed designs. You must submit these detailed designs to us for approval.

There is a minimum fee for this for work. The final fee depends on the size of the scheme. Our estimated fee is £250. 

You can also ask another contractor to make and install the sign. We will send you list of approved contractors you can contact.

You will also need to apply for a permit to dig up the road. This will be included in the estimated total cost.

We will supervise and check the sign installation. This will be included in the permit to dig up the road charge.