Penrith Neighbourhood Planning Area

Making (adoption) of the Penrith Neighbourhood Development Plan

Following an independent examination and a successful referendum result, the Council’s Cabinet resolved on 21 January 2025 to ‘make’ (adopt) the Plan as part of the Development Plan for Westmorland and Furness. The Plan will now be used to guide land use and development proposals within Penrith Parish until 2032.

Earlier stages in the preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan

Penrith Parish was approved as a Neighbourhood Planning Area in September 2016. Penrith Town Council consulted on the draft Penrith Neighbourhood Development Plan between February 2019 and March 2020 and the draft Plan was submitted to Eden District Council in August 2020.

The Examination of the Plan commenced in November 2020 with the Examiner’s Report received by Eden District Council on 29 March 2022. The Examiner’s Report concluded that the Plan should proceed to referendum subject to a number of modifications set out in the Report. For more information on the Examination of the Plan view the background to the Examination and associated documents (PDF: 797 Kb / 6 pages).

Following the examination a local referendum was held in Penrith Parish on 28 November 2024 to decide whether the local community were in favour of the Plan. From the votes recorded, 1,131 of the 1,371 votes (82%) received were in favour of the Plan (3 votes were rejected). The turnout of electors was 10.17%. View the Penrith Neighbourhood Plan Referendum results. 

Documents associated with the Neighbourhood Plan referendum:

Contact details:

Last updated: Thursday, 20 February, 2025.