Carlisle District Local Plan Inquiry

The future use of land in Carlisle and how the whole of district could be developed in the future has been set out in a newly published Carlisle District Local Plan 2001-2016.

A Government planning inspector, Mr Patrick Whitehead held a public inquiry that looked at the objections made to the City Council’s draft planning document in July last year. His recommendations are now set out in detail within the newly published report.

The document is more than 250 pages long and is now available to view on the City Council’s website.

The report is binding upon the City Council and the findings of the Inspector will be incorporated into the planning policies to be adopted as part of the Local Plan. Any new development planning applications received by the City Council will be now judged against the new Carlisle District Local Plan.

The Inspector has generally agreed with what the City Council has set out within the plan. Some of the key issues identified in his report are:

• A shortened Regeneration Policy that continues to list the Carlisle Renaissance areas for Regeneration. The proposed boundaries for regeneration areas including Rickergate have been removed with a recommendation that detailed briefs are now prepared for these areas.
• The large allocation of land at Morton has been confirmed as the site for major housing development, along with employment land and a district centre. The scale of a supermarket is identified at 2,500 square metres.
• Carlisle Racecourse - the Council’s amended boundary was not accepted but the allocation has remained with a new urban area boundary recommended.
• Reference to Caldew Riverside included within the University Development policy.
• Land allocated at Brunthill as an extension to the Regional Investment Site.
• The policy on Large Stores and Retail Warehouses requires proposals to justify the need above the Council’s capacity work.
• A land allocation south of Park Road/Durranhill Road for relocation of the Auction and new residential development.

The City Council will now take steps to formally ‘adopt’ the plan, however a detailed Appropriate Assessment in accordance with the Habitat Regulations is still to be completed. (This may have implications for some policies within the plan and the final report will be referred to the Secretary of State before the plan can be adopted.)