Government figures have shown the Lake District National Park Authority took more planning enforcement action than any other English national park for the second year running.
The planning process helps to ensure development happens in the right places in the National Park and that it meets certain criteria, within the context of national and local planning policies. It’s in place to protect and enhance the natural and cultural heritage and sustain the vibrant communities of the Lake District.
Between April 2022 and March 2023 of the 81 planning enforcement notices served on unauthorised developments in England's national parks, 35 were served by the Lake District National Park Authority.
Developments recently highlighted as part of the Lake District’s ongoing enforcement action includes new dwellings, holiday letting accommodation, breaches of local occupancy conditions, car parks, replacement windows, beer gardens, marquees, fences, hardstandings, timber decking structures, shepherd’s huts, and even the use of land for the taking off and landing of aircraft.
Andrew Smith said: “The recent Government figures reflect the hard work of our enforcement team who, where necessary, will take firm formal action against unlawful development in the national park. Breaching planning control can have serious consequences, and some landowners are finding this out to their cost.
“Undoing unlawful works to comply with an enforcement notice can be expensive, for example demolishing unlawful buildings. Failing to comply with an enforcement notice meanwhile carries significant penalties, and our recent prosecutions have shown the courts willing to issue significant fines and criminal records.
“We have a duty planner available each working day and we’d advise people to make contact to discuss their plans in advance to avoid it getting to an enforcement situation.”
More information on the Government report: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-planning-application-statistics
