THE Lake District National Park Authority took more planning enforcement action than any other English national park, according to government figures. 

This means that the park authority has topped the table two years in a row. 

Between April 2022 and March 2023 of the 81 planning enforcement notices served on unauthorised developments in England's national parks, 35 were served by the Lake District National Park Authority.

Developments recently highlighted as part of the Lake District’s ongoing enforcement action included new dwellings, holiday letting accommodation, breaches of local occupancy conditions, car parks, replacement windows, beer gardens, marquees, fences, hardstandings, timber decking structures, shepherd’s huts, and even the use of land for the taking off and landing of aircraft.

Head of development management Andrew Smith said: "Breaching planning control can have serious consequences, and some landowners are finding this out to their cost.

"Undoing unlawful works to comply with an enforcement notice can be expensive, for example demolishing unlawful buildings. Failing to comply with an enforcement notice meanwhile carries significant penalties, and our recent prosecutions have shown the courts willing to issue significant fines and criminal records."