South Lakeland District Council is running the risk of being stripped of its powers to decide major planning applications, according to a new report.

The Government could place SLDC in ‘special measures’ and hand the role to the Bristol-based Planning Inspectorate, SLDC planning bosses have warned.

It comes after figures over a two-year period show that SLDC had  10.9 percent of its planning decisions overturned at appeal – narrowly missing a national target of 10 percent.

Of 45 applications between March 2016 and March 2018, 10.9 percent were overturned at appeal by Government-appointed planning inspectors.

In a report to its 18-member planning committee, planning bosses have warned that the performance puts SLDC in the ‘special measures’ category.

In a report to the council’s planning committee, development team leader Mark Lynch wrote: “The consequence of this trend, should it continue, could be very serious in terms of the local planning authority (SLDC) retaining its powers to determine future major development proposals.

“These powers could be removed from the council and be placed under the control of the Planning Inspectorate.”

Mr Lynch said steps to address the ‘performance dip’ may be needed if performance ‘does not improve’.

SLDC has, however, submitted a ‘case of mitigation’ to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, to avoid being placed in special measures.

The figures also show that the council has a success rate of 67 percent of successfully defending appeals against refusal.

The report also noted that the council’s performance for the speed of decision-making is also in ‘excess’ of Government targets.