About the Design Code
The Design Code provides a vision for design quality and sets out clear requirements (codes) and guidance to achieve this.
Westmorland and Furness Council are creating one for the whole council area (excluding those parts within the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks). Once adopted the Design Code will become a Supplementary Planning Document used to help shape the design of future developments.
The information provided by the Design Code will help developers and builders know what is acceptable so they can submit better planning applications. For larger projects that might be developed over many years and several planning applications, design codes can also help to keep things consistent over time.
The Design Code is about providing additional guidance to existing Local Plan policies to inform the design of development; it does not give permission or stipulate where development should go. If you wish to know more about the Local Plan visit our Local Plan webpage.
The Draft Design Code
We have prepared a Draft Design Code following earlier engagement where you told us about your views on design for Westmorland and Furness. The Draft Design Code is built around a vision and a clear set of values that translate into detailed codes that are then applied to a range of development types.
For the purpose of our consultation on the Draft Design Code, the document is divided into chapters arranged by ‘development type’ with each chapter accompanied by a context checklist and compliance checklist.
The Design Code chapters along with other supporting documents are available to view at the bottom of this page.
How to get involved
Although the Design Code is quite a technical document, it is important that it is shaped by local people and those with local knowledge. That is why we’re asking for your feedback on the Draft Design Code.
Our public consultation on the Draft Design Code runs from Monday 3 November to Sunday 14 December 2025.
You can share your feedback in two ways:
Draft Design Code Consultation 2025 - Short Survey: Start with our short survey, which introduces and covers some of the big ideas in the Design Code.
Draft Design Code Consultation 2025 - Long Survey: Get into more detail, read the codes contained within the Design Code and share more detailed feedback in our long survey. You don’t have to review the whole document, just the parts which interest or affect you most. You may also comment on any of the supporting/supplementary documents.
If you experience any problems accessing the surveys, please contact our Planning Policy team via email at localplan@westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk or by telephone 0300 373 3300
Paper copies of the Draft Design Code will also be available to view during normal opening hours at:
- Kendal Town Hall, Highgate, Kendal, LA9 4DD
- Barrow Town Hall, Duke Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, LA14 2LD
- Voreda House, Portland Place, Penrith CA11 7BF
Public drop-in events
We are also running a series of public drop-in events where you can learn more about the Design Code and offer your views in a more informal way.
| Date & time | Location | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 12 November 2025 (3.00-6.30pm) | Ulverston | Main Hall, The Coro, County Square, Ulverston, LA12 7LZ |
| Thursday 13 November 2025 (2.30-5.45pm) | Barrow-in-Furness | Barrow Library, Ramsden Square, Barrow-in-Furness, LA14 1LL |
| Tuesday 18 November 2025 (2.30-6.30pm) | Penrith | Penrith Parish Centre, St Andrew's Place, Penrith, CA11 7XX |
| Wednesday 19 November 2025 (2.30-6.30pm) | Appleby-in-Westmorland | Appleby Public Hall, Boroughgate, Appleby-in-Westmorland, CA16 6YA |
| Thursday 27 November 2025 (3.00-6.45pm) | Grange-over-Sands | Victoria Hall, Main Street, Grange-over-Sands, LA11 6DP |
| Friday 28 November 2025 (2.30-5.30pm) | Kendal | Westmorland Shopping Centre, Stricklandgate, Kendal, LA9 4LR |
Draft Design Code Documents
- Introduction and Character (PDF / 11.9MB) – covers vision and values, policy context, guidance on how to use the Design Code, and a detailed assessment of the identity of the district
- Greenfield Housing (10+ homes) (PDF / 17.7MB)
- Context Checklist - Greenfield Housing (10+ homes) (PDF / ---KB)
- Compliance Checklist – Greenfield Housing (10+ homes) (PDF / ---KB)
- Greenfield Housing (up to 10 homes) (PDF / 12.1MB)
- Context Checklist - Greenfield Housing (up to 10 homes) (PDF / ---KB)
- Compliance Checklist – Greenfield Housing (up to 10 homes) (PDF / ---KB)
- Brownfield Housing (10+ homes) (PDF / 11.5MB)
- Context Checklist - Greenfield Housing (10+ homes) (PDF / ---KB)
- Compliance Checklist – Greenfield Housing (10+ homes) (PDF / ---KB)
- Brownfield Housing (up to 10 homes) (PDF / 9.0MB)
- Context Checklist - Brownfield Housing (up to 10 homes) (PDF / ---KB)
- Compliance Checklist – Brownfield Housing (up to 10 homes) (PDF / ---KB)
- Rural Replacement Dwelling (PDF / 6.7MB)
- Context Checklist - Rural Replacement Dwelling (PDF / ---KB)
- Compliance Checklist - Rural Replacement Dwelling (PDF / ---KB)
- Conversion of larger buildings to homes (PDF / 3.8MB)
- Context checklist - Conversion of larger buildings to homes (PDF / ---KB)
- Compliance checklist - Conversion of larger buildings to homes (PDF / ---KB)
- Barn Conversions (PDF / 5.3MB)
- Context Checklist - Barn Conversions (PDF / ---KB)
- Compliance Checklist - Barn Conversions (PDF / ---KB)
- House Extensions and Alterations (PDF / 2.5MB)
- Context Checklist - House Extensions and Alterations (PDF / ---KB)
- Compliance Checklist - House Extensions and Alterations (PDF / ---KB)
- Rural Diversification - New Build Holiday Chalets (PDF / 1.9MB)
- Context Checklist - Rural Diversification (PDF / ---KB)
- Compliance Checklist - Rural Diversification (PDF / ---KB)
- Greenfield Business (PDF / 3.7MB)
- Context Checklist - Greenfield Business (PDF / ---KB)
- Compliance Checklist - Greenfield Business (PDF / ---KB)
- Brownfield Business (PDF / -3.1MB)
- Context Checklist - Brownfield Business (PDF / ---KB)
- Compliance Checklist - Brownfield Business (PDF / ---KB)
- Shopfronts (PDF / 3.6MB)
- Context Checklist - Shopfronts (PDF / ---KB)
- Compliance Checklist - Shopfronts (PDF / ---KB)
- Other Development (PDF / 11.8MB)
- Context Checklist - Other Development (PDF / ---KB)
- Compliance Checklist - Other Development (PDF / ---KB)
Other supporting Documents
The following suite of documents support and supplement the Draft Design Code:
- Viability Statement (PDF / ---KB)
- Baseline Review (PDF / ---KB)
- Summary Character Appraisal (PDF / ---KB)
- Strategic Environmental Assessment / Habitats Regulations Assessment (PDF / 444KB)
What happens next?
Following the close of the consultation, we will analyse the comments we have received, decide where changes need to be made to the Design Code and prepare a final version of the document.
The final Design Code will be a digital document, making it a user-friendly online tool.
Join our mailing list
Please follow the link below to add your contact details to our Local Plan Consultation Database.