National Park Authority calls for Lake District housing sites
The Lake District National Park Authority is looking for local development sites to support with affordable housing needs in the area.
A push to find suitable land for potential homes and employment begins today.
This ‘call for sites’ is an opportunity for people to suggest land that they think would be suitable for future development for housing and other uses like employment space, community facilities or open space.
One of the sites suggested in the last call was land in Ambleside, between Loughrigg Park and Borrans Road. Following assessment and allocation, development was approved for 22 affordable, 16 local occupancy houses and two principal homes subsequently developed by Penrith-based Atkinson Homes, together with Home Group.
The call for sites marks the beginning of local communities and the wider public helping to develop the next Local Plan for the Lake District. The Local Plan sets out the strategy for all new development in the area, and consulting with residents, landowners and other members of the public is an invaluable part of the process.
Phil Drane, Team Leader for Strategy and Policy at Lake District National Park Authority, said: “We are at the beginning of preparing a new Local Plan for the Lake District. We want to hear what people think should be included in the plan and what land might be suitable for future development, like affordable housing.
“Many local families, couples and individuals are in need of reasonably priced homes and we urge landowners and members of the public to contact us with ideas. Alongside houses, we are looking for sites suitable for offices, creative workspaces, retail and tourism. We’re looking for sites of all sizes.”
Alongside the call for sites, residents, businesses and other local groups are invited to advise on what issues and challenges are most important to local communities and what topics the local plan should focus on.
If you have a site you would like the National Park Authority to consider, or would like to respond to the scoping consultation, get in touch through the form on the Local Plan webpage www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/new-local-plan/. The deadline to respond to the call for sites is 26 March 2027 and the deadline to respond to the scoping consultation is 21 October 2026.
In January 2027, a wider public consultation will begin in which the general public will be invited to share thoughts on how the Local Plan can shape development in the National Park.
