Aerial Flight at Honister Slate Mine We received the disappointing news yesterday (24th July) that the Secretary of State will not ‘call in’ the proposed zip-wires at Honister and so the Authority’s approval stands. The Secretary of State is no longer required to give reasons for his decision. Expand Update 25th July 2019 In November 2018, the Lake District National Park Authority decided to approve an application for a Dual Purpose Aerial Wire at Honister Slate Mine. We were concerned by the basis for their decision to approve, and requested that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government ‘call in’ this application. The Lake District National Park Authority agreed not to issue their decision notice on the Honister Zip Wire until the Secretary of State decided whether or not he would ‘call-in’ the application for his approval or refusal. We received the disappointing news yesterday that the Secretary of State will not ‘call in’ the proposed zip-wires at Honister and so the Authority’s approval stands. The Secretary of State is no longer required to give reasons for his decision. Update 4th December 2018 We have been assured by the National Planning Casework Unit that the Lake District National Park Authority has agreed not to issue their decision notice on the Honister Zip Wire until the Secretary of State has confirmed whether or not he will call-in the application. 15th November 2018 Friends of the Lake District is concerned about the basis for the decision to approve an application for a Dual Purpose Aerial Wire at Honister Slate Mine, and has requested that the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government “calls in” this application. This means we have asked that the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) is prevented from granting permission and for the application to be determined instead by the Secretary of State. We have done this because we believe the decision was contrary to legislation relating to National Parks and to national and local planning policy. The Sandford Principle requires that in National Parks, where there is a conflict between economic and landscape interests, the requirement to conserve and enhance the landscape must be given greater weight. In coming to their decision, the LDNPA gave significant weight to the economic benefits of the proposal, but limited value was placed on the non-visual aspects of landscape character. The decision was contrary to both the Authority’s own officer recommendations and Natural England’s objection on landscape impact grounds. The application has also been determined before a legally required assessment of the proposal’s impact on sites of international biodiversity importance has been concluded. We await the Secretary of State’s decision on whether or not the application will be called-in. If he agrees to call-in the case, he will also confirm that an inquiry will be held and the decision will be reviewed by a Planning Inspector. If he decides not to call it in, we will work with other interested organisations to consider whether any other action can be taken. Cumbria Wildlife Trust, ZipOff, the Open Spaces Society and CPRE all support our view and have also asked for the decision to be called in. Image credit: Ben Barden, Cumbria Photos 7th November 2018 Planning Application: Aerial Flight at Honister Slate Mine - APPROVED Friends of the Lake District considers there to be little justification for the Lake District National Park Authority Members ignoring the advice of its Planning Officer and agreeing to this development. We consider this to be a highly sensitive location and that this development will have a detrimental impact on the landscape character, tranquillity and biodiversity of the area. Both lines are intended to be used for the movement of stone and the shorter line is to be accessible for all including those who may not be able to access the full via ferrata. The applicant contends that the new uses outweigh the detrimental impacts of the proposal. Whilst the two proposed new uses of the wire are commendable in terms of supporting the existing business use of the site and providing a new experience in the Lake District which is accessible for all, in our opinion, they do not outweigh the detrimental impacts of the scheme. We consider the zip wire to be an inappropriate addition to the offering which will result in unacceptable detrimental landscape impacts. Our main concerns are: The conflicts with the National Park purposes The landscape and visual impacts of the development in this high fell landscape Impacts upon tranquillity by means of incongruous noise and movement at the site Transport impacts on the local road network Potential impacts upon open access land. Additionally, we feel that the application failed to provide sufficient information regarding the potential number of users, particularly on the additional shorter line. Whilst the capacity of the ‘main’ line is limited by the numbers of people completing the via ferrata there will be no such restriction on the shorter line and it is likely to become a popular attraction in its own right. The application did not address this issue and we are now concerned that this development will intensify the tourism and recreation activity on the site and create additional noise and traffic impacts. We also have major concerns relating to the potential for adverse impacts on international biodiversity designations; concerns shared by Natural England in its response to this application. 17th October 2018 Honister – decision to be made on 7th November. We have submitted a response to the recent extra consultation on the application, making clear that our concerns about the impacts on the landscape, tranquillity and biodiversity of the area remain. This is despite additional information being provided by the applicant that did clarify some of the queries we had raised in our earlier objection. We are pleased to see that Natural England has also responded to this extra consultation and that they share our concerns relating to the potential impact on international biodiversity designations. 13th September 2018 A further consultation is underway on proposals for a zip-wire at Honister Slate Mine. The proposals were submitted to the Lake District National Park Authority in January, but following comments received during consultation, the applicants were asked to provide further details of their plans. Now that this extra information has been received, people are being given a further chance to comment. Friends of the Lake District objected to the proposals due to impacts on landscape character, visual amenity and the tranquillity of the area and will be commenting again at this stage. The application can be viewed on www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/planningsearch The reference number is 7/2018/2011. The consultation closes on 8 October 2018 and comments can be made by emailing [email protected] or by writing to Lake District National Park Authority, Murley Moss, Kendal, LA9 7RL. It is expected that a decision on the proposals will be made at the Lake District National Park Authority’s Development Control Committee meeting on 7 November 2018. you'll find more detailed instructions on how to submit your own comments here> 13th March 2018 Written response submitted to the planning authority by Friends of the Lake District We have now written and submitted a full response to the planning authority which is now available to view / download at the link below: 7 2018 2011 Honister Zip Wire application FLD response.pdf 23rd February 2018 Planning Update: Honister Aerial Flight As you may be aware, another application has been submitted by Honister Slate Mine for an aerial flight (zip wire). Whilst the line of the wire remains the same as the 2012 application (7/2012/2243) the applicant considers the proposal to be different from previous applications because: The wire would be dual purpose and used to transport slate from the mine opening The secondary shorter line at the intermediate point will be accessible for all enabling disabled users and younger children to participate in the zip wire attraction. We recognise that both of these added uses are commendable in terms of supporting the existing business use of the site and providing a new experience in the Lake District which is accessible for all. However, we do not consider that these additional uses outweigh the detrimental impacts of the proposal which have previously resulted in the application being refused.We have carefully assessed the proposals, visited the site and, as an organisation which advocates for the landscape, we have taken the decision to object to the submitted proposals.Our main concerns are: The conflicts with the National Park purposes The landscape and visual impacts of the development in this high fell landscape Impacts upon tranquillity by means of incongruous noise and movement at the site Transport impacts on the local road network Potential impacts upon open access land. We consider that the application does not provide sufficient information regarding the potential number of users, particularly on the additional shorter line. Whilst the capacity of the ‘main’ line is limited by the numbers of people completing the via ferrata there would be no such restriction on the shorter line and it is likely to become a popular attraction in its own right.The application does not address this issue and we are concerned that this would intensify the tourism and recreation activity on the site and create additional noise and traffic impacts.Whilst we commend Honister Slate Mine for their diversification at the site, including the mine tours and via ferrata, we consider that the zip wire is an inappropriate addition to the offering which will result in unacceptable detrimental landscape impacts.From previous applications, we expect and respect that not everyone may agree with our position. Although we object as an organisation, we are encouraging our membership, and members of the public, to engage in the planning process whatever their view.The best way to make your voice heard is to write to the Lake District National Park Authority (the planning authority) with your views on the application. Anyone can make comments on a planning application regardless of where you live, and whether you are objecting to or supporting the proposal.You should email any comments to [email protected] and include Planning Reference Number 7/2018/2011 in your correspondence. The closing date for comments is 26th March 2018. You can also write to the planning authority. We've included some additional notes in the link below which also includes instructions for viewing or downloading this planning application. Additional Guidance on submitting comments to the Planning Authority>And finally, we will be making our full written response available online once it has been submitted to the planning authority.26th January 2018 We have been made aware that the planning proposal detailed below is now live and available to view online at the LDNPA planning portal. Planning Reference: 7/2018/2011 (Full Planning application) Proposal: Dual purpose aerial wire for extraction of stone and tourism use Location: Honister Slate Mine, Honister Pass, Borrowdale, Keswick, CA12 5XN View the application We have been invited to consult on the application and now that we are in receipt, we will be assessing as soon as possible. We will not be commenting on the application until we have thoroughly read and assessed the proposal. We have engaged with the applicants when they have requested and we will be interested to see if our advice has been incorporated into the development of the proposals. 12th January 2018 We are aware that Honister Slate Mine has submitted an application for a new zip wire. We will assess the proposal fully once sumbission has been processed and application is made available for download by the planning authority. 26th April 2017 We are aware that Honister Slate Mine is progressing an application for a new zip wire due to be submitted imminently . We have had pre application discussions with the applicants and their agent. We will assess the proposal fully once submitted. Given the likely interest in this proposal we intend to make our response available on this website page at the earliest opportunity.
Kirkby Moor Windfarm We were disappointed to hear yesterday (29th July) that the planning appeal has been allowed relating to the extension of life of Kirkby Moor Windfarm. Permission has been granted to extend the life of the existing turbines until 31 March 2027, followed by a further year to carry out decommissioning works. Expand Update 30th July 2019 We were disappointed to hear yesterday (29th July 2019) that the planning appeal has been allowed relating to the extension of life of Kirkby Moor Windfarm. Arguments that the proposal did not constitute repowering and therefore did not find special favour in the National Planning Policy Framework were rejected, along with other arguments around landscape, heritage, noise and residential amenity impacts, impacts on the setting of the National Park and the proposed National Park extensions. The outcome of this case may influence decisions on other proposals to extend the life of windfarms. We joined and worked closely with local group Kirkby Moor Protectors to challenge the proposal and participated with them in the planning inquiry held in Ulverston in January this year. Despite this outcome, working closely with the community in this way was a very positive experience and we gained valuable experience through being directly involved in the process. The decision means that permission has been granted to extend the life (duration of the planning permission) of the existing turbines until 31 March 2027, followed by a further year to carry out decommissioning works. The original application in 2015 by RWE to decommission the 12 existing turbines on the Kirkby Moor site and replace them with 6 turbines with a blade tip height of 115m, over two and a half times the height of the current turbines, was refused and not appealed. The application by Zephyr Investments to instead extend the duration for which the turbines would remain in place was submitted in 2017 and was also refused, but the company appealed, resulting in this inquiry. Update 3rd July 2019 We are still waiting the Inspector’s decision in relation to an application to extend the time the Kirkby Moor windfarm is permitted to remain in situ. The decision was originally expected in May but we have now been informed that the decision will be made on or before 12th August. Update 7th February 2019 We are expecting a decision on Kirkby Moor wind farm on or before 21st May 2019. Update 1st February 2019 On Tuesday 29th January, we spoke at the Inquiry into the into the appeal against refusal of an application to extend the life of the wind farm by 8 years. Our objection is primarily on the grounds of landscape impacts. We stood with members of the community and Parish and District Councillors as a ‘Rule 6’ group, meaning we had the benefit of an experienced advocate, a collective voice and formal standing at the Inquiry. All those that spoke put their cases across fairly and clearly and it was heartening to see the way in which the community had come together. We felt the Inquiry went well and was conducted very fairly. The Inspector will now undertake some further site visits before preparing his report and issuing his decision. This is expected to take several weeks, but we will provide updates as soon as we receive news on the outcome. Update 25th January 2019 The second week of the Kirkby Moor Wind Farm Planning Inquiry will begin at 10am on Tuesday 29th January in the Supper Room (upstairs) at Coronation Hall, Ulverston with subsequent days commencing at 10am. It reconvenes to continue the Inquiry into the appeal against refusal of an application to extend the life of the wind farm by 8 years. Friends of the Lake District will be attending the Inquiry and will be speaking on Tuesday 29th (likely to be pm). Members of the public are welcome to attend and will have an opportunity to speak on Wednesday 30th January. The last day has been scheduled for Friday 1st February but it is possible, if good progress is made, that the Inquiry will finish earlier. Update 14th December 2018 We are preparing to take part in the public inquiry that will determine the appeal referred to in the extract below (2nd August 2018). The appeal will take place over 2 weeks from 21st January at the Coronation Hall, Ulverston, with the exact timetable yet to be set out. Update 2nd August 2018 Zephyr Investments has appealed against South Lakeland District Council’s decision to refuse its application to extend the life of its windfarm at Kirkby Moor. The windfarm, on the edge of the Lake District National Park on the Furness Peninsula, was granted temporary planning permission for 25 years in 1992. It will now go to a public inquiry in January 2019. The formal deadline for the public to object is 7 August but people can still make their views heard beyond that through local parish councils and campaign groups. We objected previously (to the original scheme, a re-powering of the scheme and to the application to extend its life) and will be adding further evidence for our objection as part of the appeal process - and we will be doing so as part of a 'Rule 6 coalition' along with other parties that have concerns about the proposal, mainly the group ‘Kirkby Moor Protectors’. 6th December 2017 Friends of the Lake District welcomes the decision by South Lakeland District Council Planning Committee to refuse the application by Zephyr Investments to retain the turbines on Kirby Moor, on the Furness peninsula, Cumbria, until 31st March 2027. Read our press release Time runs out for Kirkby Moor Windfarm 25th September 2017 We responded to the application to vary condition 6 - to extend the life of the wind farm. Read our response 26th November 2015 South Lakeland District Council’s planning committee has refused the application for repowering the Kirkby Moor windfarm. The proposal by energy company RWE comprised the decommissioning of the 12 existing turbines on the Kirkby Moor site and replacing them with 6 turbines with a blade tip height of 115m, over two and a half times the height of the current turbines. Read more...
Carlisle Southern Link Road consultation Cumbria County Council is currently carrying out a public consultation about proposals for the new Carlisle Southern Link Road. The consultation closes on 12th July. Expand 15th July 2019 We have now submitted our full written response to the Carlisle Southern Link Road public consultation. You can view or download our submission at this link. Carlisle Southern Link Road Public Consultation Response (pdf) 29th April 2019 Cumbria County Council is currently carrying out a public consultation about proposals for the new Carlisle Southern Link Road. The consultation closes on 12th July. The proposal is closely associated with St Cuthbert’s Garden Village, which will involve around 10,000 homes being built south of Carlisle. Both projects have financial backing from the Government and so are highly likely to go ahead. The consultation enables residents to view and comment on the proposed route of the road and details such as location of junctions and bridges and opportunities for cycle provision and green infrastructure alongside the scheme. Friends of the Lake District will be responding to the consultation in detail once we have had a closer look at the proposals. The consultation can be found online at https://www.cumbria.gov.uk/cslr/ and there are a series of public drop in events in Carlisle (see webpage for details).
Threlkeld Railway Path We are disappointed that the Lake District National Park Authority has decided to resurface the Keswick to Threlkeld railway path with standard tarmac and would like the Authority to reconsider. Sign the petition. Expand Update 26th June 2019 - 38 Degrees Petition Many of our members, supporters, local people and users of the route agree with us and have signed this petition https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/n0-tarmac-on-railway-path, which was set up by a local resident to ask for these alternatives to be explored. We’d urge anyone who feels the same to join them in doing so! 2nd April 2019 Friends of the Lake District is disappointed that the Lake District National Park Authority (LDNPA) has decided to resurface the Keswick to Threlkeld railway path with standard tarmac and would like the Authority to reconsider. We welcome the works to repair and improve the multi-user trail along the stretch of the former railway line that lies between Threlkeld and Keswick. This popular route was a casualty of Storm Desmond and the havoc it wrought in the winter of 2015. A funding package of £7.9 million is being invested to repair the trail, stabilise river banks and repair and replace infrastructure along the length of the route to repair damage. The scheduled re-opening in 2020 will be a moment to celebrate but we must ask why the national park appears to be compromising on its choice of path surface. Using standard tarmac will have an urbanising and formalising effect on the environment, compromising the historic, vernacular and rural character of the area along the route. Other highlighted concerns are that tarmac will be more susceptible to being slippery in icy weather compared to a more natural surface as it was previously, and that that the smoother surface will encourage cyclists to speed and risk other users such as walkers and horse riders. In addition to the choice of surfacing we have concerns about tree felling along the route impacting on a county wildlife site and red squirrel habitat. Red squirrels are a protected but threatened species, and some of the felling has already taken place before the arboricultural statement has been approved. In a County Wildlife Site, Priority Habitat and red squirrel habitat, avoidance of harm should be a top priority. The reinstatement of the route has been welcomed universally, and we are delighted that it is well on its way to being restored. But our concerns echo those of individuals and groups including Underskiddaw Parish Council, the Open Spaces Society, the Ramblers Association, Cumbria Bridleway Society and the Horse Access Campaign UK. Friends of the Lake District is supporting those in opposition by making our concerns known to organisations such as the LDNPA, Environment Agency and Natural England, and by helping concerned parties to connect with each other and advising on possible courses of action. We are all unified in asking for a more natural or natural-looking surfacing, similar in nature to the type of surfacing already used along much of the route and visually more in-keeping with the surroundings. It would also be more sustainable in terms of drainage whilst enabling a variety of users to access and travel along it. Alternative surfaces have been researched and shared by groups opposed to the use of standard tarmac. We find it hard to understand the decision to use such a material when there are numerous and more sympathetic alternatives available. Flexipave www.kbiuk.co.uk eg Trans Pennine Trail, Barnsley Nuflex / Nuphalt www.nuphaltcontracting.com/nuflex/ eg Britannia Greenway, Bacup. Fibre-dec www.colas.co.uk/looking-after-today/contracting/specialist-processes-and-surface-treatments/fibredec-surface-dressing/ eg Pembrokeshire Sustrans Cycle Path Ultitrec www.tarmac.com/solutions/aggregates-asphalt/ultitrec We are also aware of a case study detailing the Ultitrec surface which makes specific reference to the surface “Being primarily used for recreation purposes and situated in beautiful countryside locations it was essential that the completed towpath fit with its surroundings”. We would question why this level of care is not being applied to the Keswick-Threlkeld route. See http://www.tarmac.com/media/956837/ultitrec-case-study-2pp_proof.pdf for more details. Even though planning permission has already been granted, we believe that it is still possible for the LDNPA to change its mind about the surface materials used, and we understand that the planning condition dealing with the detail of what the track will be surfaced with has yet to be discharged. We and our partners would urge the LDNPA to reconsider their decision and actually enhance the work already undertaken to re-open this popular route.
Threlkeld housing applications Expand Update 4th April 2019 We were very pleased to learn that the application for 8 houses on Blease Road, Threlkeld has now been refused on landscape and residential amenity grounds. We objected to this application on the basis of harm to landscape character and visual amenity, including cumulative impacts with other developments and conflict with local and national policy and guidance. The refusal follows a second attempt to get the scheme through. You can read our second response in full here: Second Response A resubmitted proposal for the 3 dwellings at Station Road was allowed following some revisions to the scheme. Update 17th October 2018 We recently responded to consultation on two applications for housing developments in Threlkeld. There have been several applications for housing development in Threlkeld recently and here too we feel that this represents an overdevelopment of the village. We are pleased to see that one of the proposals (the 3 dwellings at Station Road) has been withdrawn and we await news on the second proposal.September 2018 Threlkeld village has seen something of a bombardment of planning applications lately and we have key concerns about the cumulative impacts of these as well as the landscape and settlement character impacts of the individual proposals. This one concerns 8 houses at Blease Road, and 3 local needs houses at Station Road. See our response here.
Geological Disposal of Radioactive Waste Expand Update 26th March 2019 The Government has recently consulted on the process for evaluating suitability of sites for a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) for high level radioactive waste. We responded to the consultation raising our concerns that intergenerational equity (the more suitable the geology is for very long term containment, the better the outcome for the safety of future generations) needs to be taken into account when choosing a GDF site because of the many thousands of years it will be necessary to keep the radionuclides contained. In our view this means that the geological safety of the disposal site is the highest priority. We also raised concerns that National Park Authorities are excluded from the decision-making process which means they cannot stop part or all of a national park being put forward for selection by a different local planning authority. We consider that this is a huge mistake in the site selection process and needs to be addressed urgently by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Read our response: Friends of the Lake District response to Radioactive Waste Management consultation on GDF Site Evaluation March 19 (pdf) 31st July 2018 Today the government published its Draft National Policy statement for Geological Disposal Infrastructure which will be taken to Parliament later this year. Despite serious concerns raised by Friends of the Lake District, Lake District National Park Authority, Campaign for National Parks and many others the government has decided to not exclude protected landscapes from being considered for hosting a radioactive waste site. This has major implications for the Lake District and the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) as west Cumbria is seen as a potential host community, given previous attempts to site one here and the close proximity of the nuclear power station, Sellafield, and proposed nuclear power station, Moorside. We make two key points in our responses to the consultation earlier this year, (see below) and these concerns both still stand as the government has not taken them into account. April 2018 We have responded to a government draft National Policy Statement on how to select a site for a deep Geological Disposal Facility for high level nuclear waste in the UK. We have also responded to a separate consultation 'Working With Communities' to encourage communities to volunteer to host the facility. This has major implications for the Lake District and the Solway Coast Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) as west Cumbria is seen as a potential host community, given previous attempts to site one here and the close proximity of the nuclear power station, Sellafield, and proposed nuclear power station, Moorside. We make two key points in our responses: We believe that Protected Landscapes, such as national parks, AONBs and World Heritage Sites, should be excluded from being considered as a potential site for storing this type of nuclear waste. We believe that the national importance of landscapes that receive the highest level of legal and policy protection possible should be respected and that they should be excluded from the process. We also feel that it is insufficient to simply leave the decision to proceed with local communities. The Lake District is a national park because it is recognised to be a ‘national asset’. If a community in or near the Lake District was to put itself forward as a host for a Geological Disposal Facility, the Government should undertake a test of public support on national basis so that everyone with an interest in the Lake District has the opportunity to input into the process. Previous studies have shown that the Lake District’s geology makes it wholly unsuitable for a Geological Disposal Facility. We are concerned that the emphasis from government is on finding willing host communities rather than first looking for sites with suitable geology for this type of activity. This facility must be sited 1km underground within 20 square kilometres of impermeable rock type such as clay or salt. This is the sort of geology needed to contain radioactive gases and particles for up to 100,000 years. The geology of the western Lake District is highly fractured and faulted and unfortunately, there is no guarantee that human engineered containment would last 100,000 years. Over such an extended timescale it is likely that water would permeate through the rock and into the Irish sea and other ground water bringing radioactive particles with it. It is unethical to leave future generations with a legacy of poorly contained radioactive waste. We therefore believe that no community should be allowed to volunteer as a host unless it can be first be confirmed that the geology of the area is suitable. Download / view our full responses here: Friends of the Lake District response to BEIS Implementing Geological Disposal NPS (pdf) Friends of the Lake District response to BEIS Working With Communities consultation final (pdf)
Kendal Flood Defence Scheme We are disappointed to hear that The Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has decided not to call in the application for Kendal’s flood defence scheme. Expand Update 27th August 2019 Our overall concerns about the Kendal Flood Defence Scheme, as set out in our responses to the planning application, still stand. This includes fundamental concerns over the failure to undertake upstream measures prior to installing downstream measures; failure to maximise and prioritise natural flood management measures; failure to maximise property-level resilience and defence; failure to fully consider more forward-thinking alternatives to traditional, hard-engineered flood defence walls and the loss of several hundred trees. Despite this, I can confirm that Friends of the Lake District supports, in principle, the use of part glass, part wall flood defence structures along Aynam Road as an alternative to solid wall structures. It is our view that if a part glass, part wall structure were to be used along sections of the scheme such as that along Aynam Road, then this would be likely to result in a lesser visual impact and reduced compromise to public connectivity with the river compared to the approved proposals for a solid wall structure. This does not constitute a declaration of support for the overall Kendal Flood Defence Scheme as currently proposed, or any individual aspect of it, and our objections to the scheme as a whole, and our fundamental concerns, remain. Update 8th May 2019 Kendal Flood Risk Management Scheme - Planning Application No. SL/2018/0925 - Secretary of State decides not to call in the decision to approve the scheme. We are disappointed to hear that The Secretary of State for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government has decided not to call in the application for Kendal’s flood defence scheme. This means that the local planning authority’s decision stands. The Secretary of State made clear he has not considered the matter of whether this application complies with Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations, saying that the local planning authority is responsible for considering whether these Regulations apply and, if so, for ensuring that the requirements of the Regulations are complied with. We do not think that the EIA rules were properly complied with. Unfortunately this decision may represent the end of the road for influencing Kendal’s flood defence scheme. We will let you know if any further information comes to light. 21st March 2019 - Kendal Flood Defences scheme approved by SLDC, but we submit a request for the decision to be 'called in'. We spoke at a Planning Committee meeting on 21st March before proposals for 12km of flood defence walls through Kendal were approved by South Lakeland District Council. This is Phase 1 of a three phase project. We remain deeply concerned about the impact of the walls on Kendal’s historic environment, on its character and on people’s enjoyment of the river corridor, as well as impacts on common land and the way in which the project (which includes felling 545 trees) has been approached. View our second response to the plans here. Although approved by the council, we have, alongside local residents and other local and national organizations*, submitted a request to the Secretary of State that the application be ‘called-in’. This would mean that the application would be assessed by the Secretary of State, who would then decide whether or not the council has made the right decision. We have made the request for two reasons; one being impacts on Nationally Designated Heritage Assets, and the other relating to the lack of certainty, or any assessment of, Phases 2 and 3 actually being carried out, which are upstream flood defence and flood risk management measures on which the scheme is wholly dependent. * The people and groups that have asked for the decision to be called in: Friends of the Lake District Lakeland Arts (the Abbott Hall) Kendal Civic Society The Georgian Group (supported by the Victorian Society) - both national organizations Aynam Road Residents’ Group (including several people who have direct experience of having had their homes flooded) two individual residents a local architect specializing in historic environment Read our original response to the plans here. 14th February 2019 - Environment Agency issue amendments including reducing the number of trees to be felled from 779 to 545 In response to concerns raised by members of the public and organisations, the Environment Agency has issued new documentation relating to their planning application to build flood defences along the River Kent in Kendal. How to viewAll the documents are available via this webpage Type SL/2018/0925 into the ‘Planning Application Number’ box on the right hand side of the page and click ‘Search’. On the next page click ‘View plans and documents’. On the next page click in the box that says you agree to this statement (copyright rules) and then click on ‘Proceed’. From there, it will be easiest if you click on ‘Received date’ to sort the documents by date and then click on page 2. From there you can click through pages 2-10, which include the most recent amended documents – all those with ‘Amended’ as the first word in the title. The most helpful are those with ‘Tree removal and retention plan’ in the Description column as despite the name, these also give information on the flood walls proposed. They cover the whole route of the Kent through Kendal section by section. The new documents include amendments such as reducing the number of trees to be felled from 779 to 545 and a commitment to replacing lost trees 6:1 instead of 4:1. However, this is still a large number of trees to lose and those to be saved do not include prominent trees on areas such as Aynam Road and Gooseholme. While a 6:1 replanting ratio is commendable, new trees will take many years to provide the benefits that mature trees do. Many of the concerns we raised in our original response remain, including the small number of homes to be protected, increased flood risks for some homes and reliance on two later phases of the scheme, yet to be devised. We are concerned that as parts of the scheme are mutually dependent on one another and that each would be subject to Environmental Impact Assessment legislation, the three phases should not be treated separately, but assessed as one project. We will be submitting a further response to this application to take into account the revised documents by the deadline of 3rd March. 21st December 2018 - Our response to SL/2018/0925 Kendal Flood Risk Management Scheme We have now submitted our response to SL/2018/0925 Kendal Flood Risk Management Scheme - Phase 1 Kendal Linear Defences. You can read it at this link: FLD response to SL20180925.pdf 21st December 2018 - Additional information provided by the Environment Agency Information relating to the Kendal Flood Risk Management Scheme provided by the Environment Agency Fact Check figures: Kendal_Factcheck_V2.pdf Kendal Future Flood Risk Management Update: Kendal_newsletter_Final_Dec_18.pdf 18th December 2018 - Press Release issued today - Kendal Flood Defence Scheme The Environment Agency has proposed a Kendal Flood Defence Scheme to try to reduce the flood risk to homes and businesses in the town that was one of the Cumbrian communities badly affected by Storm Desmond in 2015. The Plan includes flood defence barriers and embankments along much of the riverside within the town, and areas at Mintsfeet, Beezon Fields and Gooseholme being allowed to flood in order to store and slow down water flow. Local landscape charity, Friends of the Lake District, while welcoming measures that will reduce flooding risks, has raised some questions on this particular plan. Lorayne Wall, Planning Officer at Friends of the Lake District, “We feel that given the scale, complexity and importance of this scheme, insufficient time has been allowed for members of the public and relevant organisations to properly consider all the documentation and its implications. “There is concern over the large number of trees to be felled given that trees contribute so much to the character of Kendal as well as helping to provide cleaner air, habitat, bank stabilisation and intercepting and storing water. “There is little mention of natural flood management measures within the town, further upstream or across the wider river catchment. There may be further opportunities to reduce run-off rates, reduce the peak flow of water and in turn, reduce the need for such significant and highly engineered measures within Kendal. There needs to be more consideration of alternatives such as increased flood resilience measures and pop-up flood barriers, such as those in Cockermouth, which would have more limited impacts. “This plan offers a valuable opportunity for an innovative solution that delivers on flood mitigation and defence for Kendal whilst protecting and enhancing what is special about the town. We feel that more time and effort should be invested to make sure that this happens.” The application is currently being considered by South Lakeland District Council (SLDC). It will be considered by SLDC Councillors at a meeting in March and it is expected that works will start shortly after that if approved.
Energy proposals at Old Hutton Expand 6th November 2018 A proposal for a new gas-fired power station in open countryside near Old Hutton, three miles from Kendal was turned down by planning committee for a second time this year on Friday 2nd November, by a whisker. Thirty eight members of the public, joined landscape conservation charity Friends of the Lake District’s planning officer Lorayne Wall to speak against the proposal at the planning committee meeting. South Lakeland District Council had recommended it for approval, despite significant objections from local residents. Members of the planning committee voted 5 votes to 5, with one abstention and the chair having the casting vote, voted against accepting the application. A proposal for a larger power station and battery storage facility on the site of an existing electrical substation was turned down in January this year. The application covered an area of just over three hectares of land, in open countryside close to Old Hutton village, and would have roughly doubled the size of the existing electricity substation there. Many in local communities have campaigned against the proposals since their original submission in May 2017. The original application, for a 49.99MW battery storage facility and a 49.99MW gas fired electricity generation station on land to the north of the Old Hutton Substation, was turned down by planners in January this year. This new application for a gas fired power station at the site is without the battery storage facility this time.Friends of the Lake District objected to the two original schemes and also objected to the recent proposal, on the same grounds as our earlier objection, on the basis of landscape and visual impacts in a rural agricultural landscape, transport impacts on the local rural roads, including through nearby villages and hamlets, and the removal of diverse hedgerow and trees to enable access. Read more about this and our response here. Lorayne Wall, Friends of the Lake District’s planning officer, said: “We were pleased that proposals for a gas-fired power station in open countryside near Old Hutton were rejected for the second time this year on Friday. This was due in no small part to almost 40 local community members, along with MP Tim Farron and the Leader of South Lakeland District Council, Giles Archibald, who all spoke strongly against the proposal at planning committee.” Update 31st October 2018 South Lakeland District Council has recommended the proposal for a gas fired power station at Old Hutton for APPROVAL. We will be appearing at the planning committee meeting on Friday 2nd November to present our objections to the proposal. Update 13th July 2018 Gas fired power station at Old Hutton resubmitted The applicant has lodged a new application for a gas fired power station at the site. It is a resubmission and replaces the two earlier applications, for a gas fired electricity generating station and a battery storage facility that were rejected in January. This time the new application is for a 49.99W gas fired power station on the site (no battery storage facility). Friends of the Lake District objected to the two original schemes and also object to the current proposal, on the same grounds as our earlier objection, on the basis of landscape and visual impacts in a rural agricultural landscape, transport impacts on the local rural roads, including through nearby villages and hamlets, and the removal of diverse hedgerow and trees to enable access. View our response here. You can view the proposal on the South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) website here by searching on reference SL/2018/0388. You can also arrange to view the applications at the SLDC offices in Kendal. You can respond to this application by submitting comments via the SLDC website, or by email, send your comments to [email protected] OR write to: Development Management Group Manager South Lakeland House Lowther Street Kendal LA9 4DL You must quote the reference SL/2018/0388 in your correspondence. The official deadline for making comments has now passed, (20th July) but you can still send comments in until the planning committee meeting at which the decision will be made. There is currently no date for this yet. Our response to the previous applications can be read here. Update 5th January 2018 South Lakeland District Council Planning Committee has rejected two applications for a 49.99MW Battery storage facility and a 49.99MW gas fired electricity generation station on land to the north of the Old Hutton Substation. Read our full press release Update 11th October 2017 We expected this application would go to Committee in late September. However, there has been an ongoing dialogue between South Lakeland District Council and the Planning Inspectorate as to whether or not the two applications should be determined by the council or under the NSIP (Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project) process by the Planning Inspectorate, given both are marginally under the 50MW threshold but cumulatively are far above that threshold. An extension of time, until 5th January 2018, to determine the applicant has been agreed. Update 27th June 2017 Application SL/2017/0425 comprising of the Installation of a 49.99 MW battery storage facility with associated equipment, and application SL/2017/0426 comprising of the installation of gas fired electricity generating station. You can still respond to these applications by submitting comments via the South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) website. The application reference numbers are: SL/2017/0425 and SL/2017/0426 and can be accessed via these links or by searching on the SLDC website. You can also arrange to view the applications at the SLDC offices in Kendal. Update 14th June 2017 Application SL/2017/0425 comprising of the Installation of a 49.99 MW battery storage facility with associated equipment, and application SL/2017/0426 comprising of the installation of gas fired electricity generating station. Friends of the Lake District have assessed the above proposals and objected to both on the basis of landscape and visual impacts, both individually and cumulatively, transport impacts and the removal of diverse hedgerow to enable access. We do not consider that the applications have fully assessed the impacts of these proposals and they do not provide sufficient evidence to substantiate the arguments for the proposals. Our full response can be read here. 16th May 2017 We are aware that two planning applications have been submitted to South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) for significant energy related infrastructure on land at Greenmoor Bank, Old Hutton Kendal. Our planning officer is currently assessing these proposals and will issue our written responses to the application in due course. Initial assessment has raised concerns over the cumulative impacts of the development alongside current infrastructure as well as the two applications combined. We are particularly concerned regarding detrimental impacts on landscape character and visual amenity from key viewpoints including the Helm. The application reference numbers are: SL/2017/0425 and SL/2017/0426 and can be accessed via the SLDC website or by arranging to view the application at the SLDC offices in Kendal.
Crosthwaite Expand 17th October 2018 We recently responded to consultation on a proposal for 5 dwellings at Crosthwaite. Crosthwaite has seen significant housing development for a village its size recently and is also under consideration for approximately 50 more in the Lake District National Park Authority’s Local Plan Review. We expressed our concern that this is resulting in overdevelopment as well as about the type and size of housing proposed on this scheme, the need for it and the design. Read our response.
Kendal Flood Defence Scheme Expand Kendal Flood Defence Scheme - We attended a consultation drop-in event on 17th October and have requested a meeting with the Environment Agency to get a better understanding of the proposals, which will affect the Kent catchment including Burneside, Staveley and Kentmere as well as Kendal itself.
Penrith Masterplan Expand 14th November 2018 Press Release issued today: Penrith Masterplan Concerns The Penrith Strategic Masterplan covering Penrith and land to the east of the town proposes three new villages, 5,560 houses, new jobs, town centre improvements and upgrades to local road infrastructure. Following the conclusion of an eight week public engagement process, Eden District Council’s ‘Beacon Villages’ website, which provides information about the masterplan, states that its intention will now be to prepare a report to go before Council Members in December 2018 which will include an overview of the engagement process and outline the next steps and timescales for taking forward a formal review of the Eden Local Plan next year. Local residents in the Penrith area have expressed concerns to landscape charity, Friends of the Lake District about the proposals including whether this scale of development is needed and negative impacts on the local landscape and infrastructure. In its own response to the consultation, Friends of the Lake District has focussed on similar concerns to those raised by residents and drawn attention to the cumulative impact of the proposals when viewed in conjunction with ‘garden village’ plans for 10,000 houses south of Carlisle and the emerging Eden Local Plan document, which itself proposes significant development. Lorayne Wall, Planning Officer at Friends of the Lake District, “We have concerns about the limited extent to which the impact of the proposals on the landscape has been assessed, but we also have significant concerns about the process that has been used to promote and develop the Masterplan document. “It is not clear for example how the ‘preferred option’ for the future of the area has been reached, what other options were considered and why they were excluded. Other concerns include that the current and proposed future status of the Masterplan is also unclear and no assessment has been made of the cumulative impacts of this scale of development taking place alongside other plans for significant development such as Carlisle’s ‘garden village’, A66 upgrades and development proposed in the Eden and other authorities’ Local Plans. “We have been working closely with members of the local community and it’s great to see so many of them getting involved and ensuring that they get their say in the future of their town and the wider Eden valley. We’ll continue our work with them to ensure that our shared concerns are taken on board.” To find out more about the Masterplan, including details of several upcoming consultation events and how to comment, visit http://beaconvillages.co.uk/ Update 17 October 2018 Penrith Masterplan – We attended a consultation drop-in event on 17th October and are preparing a response to the proposals for over 5000 houses to the east of Penrith. The deadline is 2nd November. Eden District Council is consulting on a Masterplan covering Penrith and land to the east of the town, including the Beacon Hill. The Masterplan proposes three new villages, 5,560 houses, new jobs, town centre improvements and upgrades to local road infrastructure. Local residents in the Penrith area have expressed concerns to Friends of the Lake District about the proposals including whether this scale of development is needed and negative impacts on the local landscape and infrastructure. A local campaign group called ‘Keep Penrith Special’ has formed. We will be reviewing the Masterplan and preparing a response to the consultation, which ends on 2nd November. Our response is likely to focus on similar issues to those raised by local people, as well as on the cumulative effects of the proposals with ‘garden village’ plans for 10,000 houses south of Carlisle and the emerging Eden Local Plan document, which itself proposes significant development. People can view the Masterplan and find out more, including details of several upcoming consultation events and how to comment, at http://beaconvillages.co.uk/
St Cuthbert's "garden village" Carlisle Expand Update 14 August 2018 We are pleased to see that preferences expressed in our earlier comments for smaller expansions to several settlements rather than one huge extension to Carlisle have been taken on board. We also welcome the many positive intentions set out in the consultation document, particularly for green infrastructure. However, we still have some concerns, including over the scale of and justification for the development; the reliance of the project on increasing road capacity through a southern link road; the likelihood of these positive ambitions materialising in the final plans and the lack of evidence of proper consideration of landscape and visual impacts. Read our latest response here Update 2 August 2018The deadline for the public to respond to this consultation is 10th August. There will be further opportunities to respond further along in the process though. 28th March 2018We have responded to the first consultation about the proposed 'garden village' south of Carlisle. The UK government has indicated that it is minded to support the development of an entirely new and very large settlement of up to 10,000 homes to the south of Carlisle and has awarded some initial funding for the development of this concept. Read our full response here.