The land and the correct plan
We would check the exact boundary against the area covered by this exercise. An address near a boundary may not be enough. Where another plan applies, we can explain that a different route needs to be considered.
A guide for landowners
Cumberland Call for Sites: what it means for your land
A Call for Sites is a way to tell the council about land that could be developed or used for something else in future. It is not a building application. Cumberland’s exercise has specific area and resubmission rules. We can help you understand those rules and review the land while you confirm the current submission arrangements.
Council: Cumberland Council.
- Does it cover all of Cumberland?
- No. Land within the Lake District National Park or St Cuthbert’s Garden Village is outside this particular Local Plan exercise.[1]
- Sent land to a former council?
- Land previously submitted to Allerdale, Carlisle, Copeland or Cumbria County Council needs to be put forward again through this process.[1]
- One form for each site
- The council requires a separate submission for each piece of land. Minerals and waste proposals have their own forms.[1]
Putting land forward is not a planning application and does not give permission to build. The council must still assess the land and make its own decisions.
Where to start
Check the plan area before filling in the form
The first question is whether this particular exercise covers your land. The council excludes the Lake District National Park and St Cuthbert’s Garden Village because they have separate plans. We can help you check the location rather than rely on a postal address alone.[1]
Next, find any earlier submission and compare it with what you want to offer now. You may wish to put forward a whole site, only part of it or several separate areas. We can help make the boundaries and your intentions clear before you complete the paperwork.
Not sure where to start?
Could your land in Cumberland have development potential?
Use our free Land Development Assessment Tool or ask us to look at your land. We can explain what might be possible and what needs a closer look. You do not have to use our services afterwards.
A closer look at your land
What would we look at on your land in Cumberland?
These are the things we would look at when reviewing your land. They are not a council decision or a promise that you can build. We explain what is known and what may need further investigation.
What was put forward before?
We would review old forms, maps and council comments to see what is still useful. Explain changes in ownership, use, boundary or availability. Resubmitting the same land does not remove a problem that an earlier assessment identified.
Getting to and using the land
We would look at the entrance, the route to the public road and connections needed for the proposed use. Some land may depend on a shared track or another owner’s agreement. It is better to identify this before detailed plans are ordered.
Buildings, water and open land
We would ask about existing buildings, wet ground, streams, trees and the wider setting. These features can influence which part to put forward and for what use. We can help identify where existing information is enough and where further advice may be needed.
Putting your land forward
What do you need to send to the council?
First confirm the current submission window with the planning team. The council prefers its online form, which lets you draw the site boundary. Its page also explains email submissions and the boundary map needed. Use a separate form for each site, and make sure you have the owner’s permission.[1]
Show where your land is
Use a clear map showing the edges of your land, any buildings and the entrance from the road. Give the total land size. Show any extra land needed for access, drainage or water and electricity connections, and say who owns it. A postcode alone does not show the exact land you are putting forward.
Explain what you have in mind
Say what you think the land could be used for, such as homes or business premises. Explain whether you are putting forward all of it or only part. Leave room for roads, drainage, trees and other features when suggesting how much could be built. Do not assume every part can be built on.
Say who owns and uses the land
Give details of the owner and anyone currently using the land. Explain when it could become available. Mention any tenant, business or agreement that could affect this. If you act for the owner, make that clear. Do not say a neighbour’s land is available unless this has been confirmed.
Gather the information you already have
Find any previous council letters, plans or reports about access, flooding, drainage, wildlife, historic buildings or ground conditions. Say what is known and what still needs checking. You do not need to order every possible report before asking us for help. We can explain which information is most useful.
Use the council’s current form
Follow the council’s instructions and check which plans and documents it asks for. Make sure the form and maps all describe the same land and idea. Leave time to gather anything missing before the deadline. An old form or a saved draft may not be enough.
Keep proof that you sent it
Save the completed form, maps and other documents, along with the council’s confirmation or reference number. Check that you have actually sent the form rather than just saved it. Keep copies of any later changes. Contacting us is separate from sending your details to the council.
This checklist helps you prepare. You may not need everything at the start. The council’s form explains what you must send.
Help at each stage
How Value My Land can help you
We can help Cumberland landowners check the area covered, update an older submission and prepare clear site information. We can also help formulate the questions to put to the council about its differing published dates.
A free first look at your land
We look at maps and the information available about your land. We consider nearby development, road access, planning rules and issues such as flooding. We then explain whether it is worth looking into further. You do not need planning permission or a finished set of plans to contact us.
A clear plan for the next steps
We can help you decide what the land might be used for and which part has the best chance of being developed. We explain the options, likely difficulties and next steps. Some land may need to be considered through the council’s longer-term plans.
Help putting your land forward
We can help prepare the council’s form, a map of your land and an explanation of why it should be considered. Before we start, we agree the work, who will do it and the timescale. Sending us an enquiry does not mean we have agreed to submit your land.
Arranging any specialist reports
Some land needs a closer look at road access, flooding, drainage, wildlife or its effect on the surrounding area. We can arrange the right specialist help where needed. We explain which checks matter most before you commit to a large set of reports.
Help with the cost of planning
For suitable land, we may agree to pay for and manage the planning work at our own cost and risk. You keep ownership of the land. We explain our fee, any costs to be repaid and the terms before you decide. This is called a land promotion agreement.
Support after your land is submitted
If we agree to continue working together, we can review the council’s comments and help you respond. We can also help update your plans or provide more information. Where the planning outcome makes a sale possible, we can help consider marketing the land to developers.
The first review is free. Further work and any fees or agreement must be discussed separately. We cannot promise that the council will choose your land, grant planning permission or accept a late form. We also cannot guarantee a sale price.
Let us help with the paperwork
Need help putting your land forward in Cumberland?
Tell us where your land is and roughly how large it is. We can look at the opportunity and explain how we could help you put it forward. Our form contacts Value My Land; it does not send your land details to the council.
Help with planning costs
Could we pay for the planning work on your land?
Putting your land forward can be the first step towards getting planning permission. For suitable land, we can agree to pay for and manage the planning work at our own cost and risk. This can include preparing plans, arranging reports and dealing with the council. You keep ownership of the land.
If the planning work succeeds, the land can be offered for sale to developers. Our agreed fee and the costs set out in the agreement are paid from the sale money. Before work starts, we agree how costs, decisions and any future sale will be handled.
We do not fund every site. We first look at the land and discuss what may be possible. Any funding arrangement must be agreed separately. You should ask your own solicitor to advise you before signing a land promotion agreement.
After you send your details
What happens after you put your land forward?
Keep the council’s written confirmation about timing, together with your completed form and map. Make a separate record for each site. The council says site information will generally be made public, excluding personal details; raise any genuinely confidential documents with the planning team before sending them.[1]
Understand the council’s response
When the council gives its view, read the reasons as well as the result. It may have the wrong boundary or old information, or it may raise a problem that needs more work. We can help you understand its comments and decide how to respond.
Decide what to do next
The next step might be to provide more information, suggest a smaller building area or consider a different use. It may also be sensible to take a different approach. We can discuss the options and agree any further work with you. We cannot promise that the council will choose your land.
Your questions answered
Questions about the Cumberland Call for Sites
What is the Cumberland deadline?
Can land inside the Lake District National Park be submitted through this exercise?
No. The council excludes the National Park and St Cuthbert’s Garden Village from this particular Local Plan Call for Sites.[1]
Do earlier submissions to the former councils carry over?
The council says earlier submissions to Allerdale, Carlisle, Copeland or Cumbria County Council must be submitted again through this process.[1]
Does your form send my land details to the council?
No. Our form only sends your details to Value My Land. You still need a separate council submission. We must agree any work before acting for you. Contacting us does not extend the council’s deadline or mean your land has been put forward.
What do you need for a free review?
Start with the postcode or location and the approximate size of the land. Tell us whether you own it or are acting for the owner. We will explain what else would help. There is no need to send private legal or financial documents with your first enquiry.
Can you promise that the council will choose my land?
No. We can explain the strengths of your land, any problems and the work that may help. The council makes its own decision. A review does not guarantee that your land will be chosen or that you will get planning permission.
Can you put my land forward for me?
We can discuss helping with the council submission, depending on the land and the time available. We first need to agree the work, responsibilities and terms. Sending an enquiry or using our tool does not mean we have agreed to submit your land.
Will I have to pay for the planning work?
The first review is free and you do not have to take things further. For suitable land, we may agree to pay for and manage the planning work at our own cost and risk. Our fee and agreed costs are then paid from the land sale money, under the terms of a separate agreement.
Can I try the free tool before contacting you?
Yes. Our Land Development Assessment Tool gives you a first look at what might be possible. You can then contact us to discuss the result. The tool does not give planning permission or send your land details to the council. Further checks may be needed.
Free land review. No obligation.
Let’s discuss your land in Cumberland
Tell us where your land is and roughly how large it is. We will look at the details and explain what you could do next. We can discuss whether you need a first review, help with the council’s form or longer-term planning support.
You do not need to pay for reports before contacting us. We can discuss any existing plans or council letters after your first enquiry.
0800 061 4006info@valuemyland.comValue My Land
13 Ensign Business Centre, Westwood Way
Coventry, CV4 8JA
13 Ensign Business Centre, Westwood Way
Coventry, CV4 8JA
This form contacts Value My Land, not the council. We must agree any further work with you. Sending this form does not submit your land to the council or reserve a place in an assessment.
Useful council links
Council information and more help
- [1]Cumberland Call for Sites: area, forms and submission requirements
- [2]Cumberland portal: published submission date in the Key Dates panel
This is a Value My Land guide, not a council website. The practical advice and descriptions of our services are our own. Use the council links for its requirements. Dates, forms and submission arrangements can change.