AMBITIOUS plans to rejuvenate a 'slumbering giant' of a South Lakeland village into a 'world class' location are being forged.

Burneside Parish Council is in the throws of putting together a Neighbourhood Plan with aim of transforming the village.

Centred around the four key elements of development and infrastructure; traffic and transport; environment and design; and facilities and services, it is hoped the plan will help deliver sustainable, attractive housing; more business; and boost tourism.

Neighbourhood Plans were introduced by Government in 2011 through its localism agenda – allowing communities a greater say in how their areas are to be developed.

Burneside Parish Council, along with key local businesses such as James Cropper PLC, Ellergreen Estate and the Anglers Inn Trust, produced a document entitled 'The Vision for Burneside'. The document investigated possibilities for future development in the area and it has since been decided a Neighbourhood Plan is the best way to deliver on these aspirations.

"The great thing about this plan is it's formed from quite a big, inclusive group all working together to rejuvenate and develop the parish – particularly centred around the village of Burneside – into what we're calling a world class village and parish," said Tony Hill, a Burneside parish councillor.

"In a way Burneside, with all its assets, is a slumbering giant just waiting to emerge. With the participation and support of many people our Neighbourhood Plan is looking for significant new development within and around the village."

James Cropper chairman Mark Cropper said: "Ultimately, what we are trying to do is make Burneside an amazing place to live, work, play in and visit.

"The way to do that is not by doing nothing, it's through development and that is the only way we are going to fund improving the overall quality of the village.

"The really important thing about the Neighbourhood Plan is it's the community's opportunity to decide what it wants. It's going to end with a community vote and anyone that's interested in this we would encourage to come forward."

With a draft plan expected to be delivered in late June 2017, the plan's steering group has issued a call for potential housing sites, with residents asked to identify locations which could be suitable for development.

Cllr Hill added: "We're asking people: 'Do you have a site?' If you do bring them forward, they will be assessed and gradually there will be a process of open consultation about what's appropriate and what will eventually go into our draft plan."

For more information visit www.burneside.net