The Partnership's Plan - Lake District National Park

The Cumbrian Fells have provided access to rare minerals such as copper and lead for
centuries, bringing local prosperity and leaving a visible and important mineral heritage across
the area. We have not identified any significant problems with the current supply levels of
building stone or slate. But the heritage of the area has left an environmental legacy and
liability including the release of heavy metals to watercourses.
The National Park Authority has been undertaking a comprehensive assessment of its
Conservation Areas in terms of producing appraisals and management plans. This is useful for
of understanding and managing what we have in designated settlements. There are
opportunities to appraise settlements without Conservation Area designation to understand
their needs and priorities. Community led planning is an excellent way to do this. The built
environment frequently generates interest from local communities as we have witnessed
through several public realm enhancement schemes.
We will use the Lake District Landscape Character Assessment and the Building in Context
toolkit (produced by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment and English
Heritage) to assess the design of development proposals. To promote design excellence, we
will encourage and collaborate with the North West Design Review Panel.
3.16.4 Key partners
Lake District National Park, National Trust, English Heritage, farmers and other land
managers, and Natural England alongside a whole range of other organisations work in the
National Park to support the conservation of our cultural heritage and enhance the built
environment. Highways have a major impact on the public realm through signs, maintenance
and on the character of the unique road network. Cumbria County Council is a key partner.
The Fire and Rescue Service is also important in handling major incidents such as flooding.
The National Park Authority works with partners through the Lake District Historic Environment
Advisory Group to identify and coordinate historic environment work . The Group agrees and
monitors the Lake District Historic Environment Strategy and advises the Partnership on
historic environment policy.
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