Kendal News
The latest Kendal news: planning decisions, council and crime updates, business and community stories, each linked back to its official source.
Top story
Kendal Parks 160 homes approved with two votes in favour
Councillors approved up to 160 homes at Kendal Parks by two votes to none, with three abstaining. The minutes show doubt that so many could be built.
More stories
Kendal
Cumbria bus services: have your say at Kendal Town Hall on 6 October
Have your say on Cumbria's buses at Kendal Town Hall on Tuesday 6 October, 3.30pm to 7.30pm, or in a questionnaire open from 5 to 25 October.
Business
Cumbria Grand Hotel to be sold, administrators confirm
The Grange-over-Sands hotel will be marketed for sale with Strathmore's seven other hotels. No hotel jobs have gone and the bank expects to be repaid in full.
Kendal
Kendal violent crime: 140 in July, a three-year high
Police recorded 140 violence and sexual offences around central Kendal in July, a three-year high. Other crime was normal; Penrith and Barrow were flat.
Kendal
Kendal Age Friendly Festival: free on Sunday 4 October
Free festival for older people at Kendal Leisure Centre, Sunday 4 October, 11am to 2.30pm, with winter jabs for eligible people and advice on home adaptations.
Kendal
Kendal council sites for disposal: depot, County Hall, hub
Mintsfeet depot, County Hall, the Kendal East family hub site and land on Fowl Ing Lane are on the council's surplus list, plus Milnthorpe's old toilets.
House prices
Westmorland and Furness house prices hit a record £230,449
The district average reached £230,449 in July, the highest the index has recorded. But June's 11.1% rise has since been revised down to 10.1%.
Kendal
Kendal polling stations: what changes, comments close 5 Oct
The council is asking whether Kendal Leisure Centre, the Common Room and the Beck Centre still work as polling places. Comments close on 5 October.
Kendal
Westmorland and Furness Way opens via Burneside
The Westmorland and Furness Way opened on 15 September. Its longest stage, 27 miles from Sedbergh to Bowness, runs through Burneside and Staveley.
Kendal
Kendal claimant count: 320 in August, a 2026 high
Kendal's five wards recorded 320 claimants in August, the joint highest of 2026. Nether ward rose 15 in a month, against a district figure flat on the year.
Kendal
Westmorland Shopping Centre car park: wider bays from 28 Sep
Relining at Kendal's biggest car park starts Monday 28 September. Bays go from 2.4m to 2.6m wide, so there will be fewer spaces, and floors will shut in turn.
Kendal
Nether Bridge, Kendal: five-day closure from 12 October
Nether Bridge shuts to all vehicles for up to five days from Monday 12 October while the parapet demolished in June is rebuilt. Diversion via Romney Bridge.
Kendal
Kendal Parks 160 homes: what the committee was asked to decide
The Kendal Parks 160 homes plan was approved on 17 September by two votes to none, with three abstentions. What the scheme includes, and who objected.
Planning
Arnold Clark site, Kendal: self-storage decision Thursday
Officers back self-storage in part of the empty Mintsfeet Road garage, against objections from the council's own highways and flood teams. Decision Thursday.
Community
Burneside playground reopens, Windermere skatepark next up
Hall Park in Burneside is open again, a Kendal playground and the Queen's Park skatepark are in procurement, and Kendal's pump track is advancing.
Kendal Museum
Kendal Museum wins £100,000 to work with Kenya's Nandi
Kendal Museum takes £100,000 from the Esmée Fairbairn fund, joint-largest of six June awards, for a two-year project on the collection in its closed gallery.
Kendal
Heart of Kendal: £12.8m of £13m now due in one year
£1.366m of this year's Heart of Kendal budget moves to 2027/28, leaving £250,000 for 2026/27. Cabinet is asked to sign the change off on 8 September.
Staveley
Staveley: 25 Crookfields homes done, none listed yet
The third phase of Crookfields in Staveley is finished, helped by a £300,000 council grant. Castles & Coasts has not advertised any of the homes yet.
House prices
House prices here rose 11.1%, 4th fastest in England
Only three of England's 295 districts rose faster in the year to June 2026. The Westmorland and Furness average is now £230,066, £248 below its record.
What's On
Westmorland County Show 2026: free Kendal bus, £23 tickets
Gates open at 8am on 9 and 10 September at Crooklands. Book by 8 September for £23 adult tickets, and take the free half-hourly bus from Kendal Bus Station.
Jobs
Kendal claimant count: 305, as young claims buck the UK
305 people across Kendal's five wards were claiming in July 2026. Under-25 claims in Westmorland and Furness fell 15% in two years while the UK's rose 16%.
Business
Cumbria Grand Hotel in administration, bookings still open
Administrators took over the Cumbria Grand's owner on 11 August. The Grange-over-Sands hotel is one of eight in a group that employed 415 at the last count.
Schools
Kendal GCSE results day: 20 August times and next steps
GCSE results land on Thursday 20 August. Kirkbie Kendal runs 9.30am to 3.30pm, Kendal College posts grades online from 9am, appeals close 24 September.
Parking
County Hall Kendal parking: 3 areas cut, 27 August deadline
Westmorland and Furness would end weekend pay and display and free blue badge bays at County Hall car park, Kendal. Comments close 27 August.
Roads
Burneside and Grasmere 20mph: 16 roads, 28 Aug deadline
Burneside would get 20mph on 11 roads and Grasmere on five under a draft order now advertised. Windermere's scheme was dropped. Comments close 28 August.
Business
Wine Loft Bowness and two sister companies in liquidation
Three companies linked to Belmont House on Lake Road went into creditors' voluntary liquidation on 8 July. The Sipping Fox distiller stays active.