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Apply for planning permission: Allerdale

How to apply for planning permission, costs and fees, types of application and appeals.

All valid applications must include specific documents, drawings and plans depending on the type of application. Check what you need before you apply using the links and checklists below.

We are often unable to proceed with applications because the accompanying plans are missing or not good enough. We need a series of accurate drawings and plans clearly showing what you are proposing.

Please note that there are new validation requirements for applications relating to certain types of development such as housing within identified river catchments of the River Eden Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and River Derwent and Bassenthwaite Lake SAC. Applications within affected areas (the parishes, or parts of the parishes. of Boltons, Sebergham, Brigham, Dean, Great Clifton, Greysouthen, Little Clifton, Loweswater and Winscales) will now need to demonstrate nutrient neutrality.  Further information is available on the nutrient neutrality page.

The best way to apply for planning permission is through the Planning Portal. This allows you to submit all types of planning permission, and download plans. It can also be used to see how much it will cost.

Apply for planning permission

Remember you can only apply for planning permission to us if the property is outside the Lake District National Park boundary. If it is inside, you will need to apply to the Lake District National Park Authority 

How much a planning application will cost

There are set fees for the type and scale of application. Use the Planning Portal to determine the fees for your application.

Check planning application fees

How to pay your planning fees

You can pay your fees a number of ways:

  • use the the planning portal
  • telephone us on 0300 373 3730 and make a payment quoting the reference number of the application
  • contact the planning department direct on 01900 878703

We do not accept cheques.

If you are intending to build your own home or have a custom design built for you, then you may be eligible for a grant to cover the planning application and building regulations fee. Visit our Self-build and custom housebuilding grant page for details.

What happens next

Once you have submitted your application it will be given a unique reference number and go on the public planning application register. We will then consult with statutory consultees and the local community on your application.

If you wish to amend an application, speak to us first. You may need to submit a new application.

You can find out more information about how planning decisions are made on the Planning Portal  or the Planning Practice Guidance.

Who makes the decision on your planning application

A decision will be made on your application by either the planning officer concerned, or by the Development Panel which is made up of a number of councillors.

An elected member can call-in an application so that it is considered by the Development Panel.

Types of application and checklists

More information on specific types of planning applications:

 

Householder application

This application should be used for proposals to alter or enlarge a single house, including works within the boundary/garden of a house.

This includes projects such as:

  • Extensions
  • Conservatories
  • Loft conversions
  • Dormer windows
  • Garages, car ports and outbuildings
  • Properties in Article Four or Conservation Areas for windows and doors

Check that the development you are carrying out should not be considered as a Minor (or Full) application.

Find out more about this application on the Planning Portal.

Apply for planning permission

Documents to help you with your application:

Listed building consent

You will need to apply for listed building consent if you want to:

  • demolish a listed building
  • alter or extend a listed building in a manner which would affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest

You may also need listed building consent for any works to separate buildings within the grounds of a listed building. Before carrying out any works, contact us on 0300 373 3730.

Find out more about listed building consent from the Planning Portal.

How to apply

The following documents can help you with your application:

Apply for consent

Minor or full application

You should use this application form to make a detailed planning application for development, excluding householder developments.

This includes building, engineering or other works, in, on, over or under land, or the making of any material change in the use of any buildings or other land.

As such it should be used for:

  • any works relating to a flat
  • applications to change the number of dwellings (flat conversions, building a separate house in the garden)
  • changes of use to part or all of the property to non-residential (including business) uses
  • anything outside the garden of the property (including stables if in a separate paddock

Download the following validation checklists:

The Planning Portal provides more information on this type of application.

Make an application online

Outline applications

Applications for Outline Planning Permission seek to establish whether the scale and nature of a proposed development would be acceptable to the local planning authority, before a fully detailed proposal is put forward.

This type of planning application allows fewer details about the proposal to be submitted.

Once outline permission has been granted, you will need to ask for approval of the details (“reserved matters”) before work can start.

These details will be the subject of a “reserved matters” application at a later stage.

Find out more about outline planning consent from the Planning Portal.

How to apply for outline planning consent

Use the relevant validation checklist to ensure all the necessary information is provided and then apply online via the Planning Portal.

Apply for outline consent

Other types of planning application

There are other types of planning application, such as advertising consent and reserved matters consent.

If your development requires one of these, go to the Planning Portal to find out more and to make an application.

Full validation checklist

Download a copy of the Full Validation Checklist:

Footpath diversion order

Amendments to your work

If you make amendments to what was approved in the planning permission prior to starting work, or during construction, then you should reconsider your approval and investigate the need for any further applications to address any modifications.

How to appeal a decision

A decision on your planning application will be made by a planning officer, or the Development Panel which is made up of a number of councillors.

If a planning application is refused, the council will set out the precise reasons for this and the planning policies as to why the application was refused. If you consider that the reasons of objection can be overcome through revisions or amendments to your application, then you contact us for some advice on resubmitting your application.

Alternatively should you wish to challenge the council's decision then you have the right to submit an appeal with the Planning Inspector. You can find out more on the Planning Portal website.

Only the applicant can appeal against a decision to refuse an application. Objectors are not able to appeal against a decision which does not go in their favour.

What happens if you don't own the land

You don't need to own land to apply for planning permission for development on it. However, you do need to either serve notice on the owner or owners or have taken the appropriate steps to publicise the intention to apply for permission when a owner is not known. An application will need to be accompanied by the correct certificate of ownership:

  • Certificate A: When all the land within the site is in your ownership
  • Certificate B: When the land owner is known, notice will need to be served on them
  • Certificate C: When not all of the landowners are known
  • Certificate D: When no landowners are known

Details of the relevant notices to be served on the owners when known can be found on the Planning Portal website  .

When not all the landowners (Cert C) or none are known (Cert D) then a notice needs to be published in an appropriate publication circulating in the locality. In Allerdale area the following publications are deemed to be appropriate:

  • Times and Star – For Workington, Cockermouth, Maryport, Allonby, Brigham, Crosby, Dearham, Great Broughton, Little Broughton, Seaton and sites within other villages and the countryside near to these parishes
  • The Cumberland News – For Aspatria, Silloth, Wigton, Bothel, Kirkbride, Thursby and sites within other villages and the countryside near to these parishes