Westmorland and Furness Council, working with LUC, McMullan Studio, and PLACED, has been developing a comprehensive Design Code to establish a clear vision for design quality across the council area. Early community and stakeholder engagement took place in summer 2024. This gathered local views and preferences on what matters most for design in Westmorland and Furness. This early engagement was vital to understanding what residents and others identified as good design in their local contexts and helped shape the development of the draft Design Code. The Council and partners developed and later published a draft Design Code for public consultation in November 2025, and in response to this, PLACED delivered a second round of engagement.
Westmorland and Furness Design Code
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PLACED provided multiple opportunities for people to share their views and, as there were two phases of engagement, local people and stakeholders were kept informed and involved throughout the process. Because of the technical nature and amount of information being shared, a short survey was designed to collect views on the broader themes of the draft Design Code, and a longer survey was used to allow more detailed feedback on specific codes. In-person drop-in events and a series of workshops were also held across the area to ensure accessibility and enable face-to-face dialogue. The consultation emphasised that although the draft Design Code is technical, it should be shaped by local people and local knowledge.
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In total, approximately 225 people and stakeholders shared their views through the consultation. The consultation on the draft Design Code for Westmorland and Furness generated thoughtful and detailed feedback from participants across the area. This consultation feedback informed the finalisation of the Draft Design Code to ensure it effectively balances the aspiration for high-quality, locally distinctive development with the practical realities of delivery, viability, and needs of both new and existing residents.
“We are very pleased with the outcomes and how they were presented, as they gave us clear inputs and things to consider for the next stages of delivery”