The Government has today announced that Eden District Council has been awarded £50k of rural planning cash to deliver a strategic masterplan for Penrith. This money will be used to ensure that planned development is brought forward and meets the authority’s policies for quality, sustainability and delivery of affordable housing.
The money from the Department of Communities and Local Government and DEFRA has been specifically targeted to help English rural councils in design and plan for up to 10,000 new homes, Eden is one of only 36 rural councils to have been awarded the government money.
Eden District Council’s Housing and Planning Portfolio Holder, Councillor Richard Turner, said: “This is excellent news for Penrith. This additional £50,000 from Central Government will be used by our officers to take forward a strategic masterplan for Penrith, which will outline how the area develops as a market town in accordance with the principles of the Council’s Core Strategy Planning Document.
“This has been exceptional work by our Planning Policy Officers, who recognised the opportunity and worked hard to develop a successful funding application.”
As one of the successful councils, Eden will be able to access expert advice from the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) and the Homes and Community Agency as they develop a strategic masterplan to shape the growth of Penrith.
“The awarding of this additional money is a considerable achievement; the Planning Policy team has worked exceptionally hard over the past 12 months to push forward the Council’s Core Strategy towards formal adoption. We are one of only a smaller number of North West local authorities to be at this stage. Planning policies outline a structure for the development of Eden over the next 15 years, including specific policies on key issues such as affordable housing,” said Eden District Council’s Planning Policy Manager, Roger Hopcraft.
For more information about Eden District Council visit www.eden.gov.uk
For further media information please contact the Communication Officer:
