A planning application for a major business park in the open countryside north of Kendal at Ratherheath has been has been turned down by planners at both South Lakeland District Council and the Lake District National Park Authority.  

The application proposed the development of 38 acres of green fields at Ratherheath, which lies within the Lake District National Park. Friends of the Lake District shared the concerns of many local people and visitors who cherish the area both in its own right and as a gateway to the National Park, that the development would fundamentally harm the character of the area.

We appreciate the need to provide employment sites within the park, but believe these should be of a size appropriate to the national park, given the legal requirements of a national park to conserve beauty, wildlife and heritage and promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the area.

The proposal fundamentally conflicts with national and local planning policy. We therefore submitted strong objections to the proposed development, and encouraged our members and other interested parties to also send comments directly to the National Park Authority.

South Lakeland's Planning Committee refused permission for the part of the application which falls into their area at a meeting on 28 January. We submitted a detailed letter of objection to the National Park Authority, see link below.

Our response is available here.

One of Friends of the Lake District's key aims is to work with members and local communities in protecting Cumbria's landscape from inappropriate schemes such as this. We are one of the very few CPRE branches to employ a professional planning officer. We rely solely on donations and membership for funding. If you share our concerns, please consider joining or making a donation.

Please email Richard Pearse, Planning Officer, for further information at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Useful links:

National Park Authority planning page

'Stop Ratherheath Development' Facebook page

http://www.ratherheath.co.uk/