Cumbria Nutrient Neutrality
Cumbria Nutrient Neutrality (Cumbria NN) is the partnership between Westmorland and Furness Council, Cumberland Council, and the Lake District National Park Authority.
Together we are working to ensure new development in Cumbria does not add to nutrient pollution in rivers and lakes, while supporting sustainable growth across the county.
For guidance, resources, and the latest updates, please visit the new partnership website.
Biodiversity Net Gain
All planning applications since January 2022, apart from those which are exempt, need to make a 10 per cent increase in biodiversity. If a hedge is removed for example, another hedge must be planted or enhanced to make a 10 per cent increase in biodiversity value after development.
These pages provide guidance for developers and for landowners looking to provide land for offsetting, creating of new areas of biodiversity.
Nature Recovery Delivery Plan
National Parks England prepared the English National Park’s Wildlife Delivery Plan in 2020 as one of four national strategies for 2030, to shape the 10 English National Park authorities’ collective work on nature, climate, farming, and landscapes for all.
The Lake District National Park Nature Recovery Plan takes the Government’s ambition and targets for nature recovery forwards, and lays out how the Lake District National Park Partnership will contribute to restoring nature on 30 per cent of land by 2030 (known as 30X30).
Biodiversity Duty Report
All public authorities have a duty under the Environment Act 2021 to consider what we can do to conserve and enhance biodiversity. The actions we take for biodiversity contribute to the achievement of national goals and targets on nature recovery. Our Biodiversity Duty Report sets out action we have taken to benefit biodiversity, and outlines future actions we intend to take. It includes information about our activity on biodiversity net gain (BNG), both in our statutory role as a planning authority and more widely.
A responsible body for nature recovery
The LDNPA became a Responsible Body in January 2025, which is a regulatory status granted by DEFRA. Being a Responsible Body gives the us powers to enter into a Conservation Covenant agreement with a landowner, for the purposes of underpinning and regulating conservation actions for the public good.
