Roanhead Lodge Development

Update February 2024 - revised planning application received for Roanhead

After huge opposition to plans for a 450-lodge holiday resort at Roanhead, the developers have now changed their application, reducing the number of lodges to 233. Our view is that the development would still have a major impact on this sensitive stretch of coastline, despite the reduction in the planned number of lodges. Please help us object again - previous responses won't count.

Read our latest response (Feb 2024) here, and the Appendix here

Update January 2024

After withdrawing their initial application in December 2023, the developers have submitted a new application for a reduced number of lodges (233). The size of the accompanying holiday complex facilities remains the same.

Read our previous July 2023 response here and a review of the Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment here

Roanhead Update 27 September 2023

We are aware that a further proposal on land adjacent the 450-lodge Roanhead development is afoot. It comprises 62 lodges, 40 touring caravan/motorhome/ camper pitches and visitor facilities.
At this stage, it is a screening request, meaning the landowner/developer Queensland County Park Ltd. is just asking for Westmorland & Furness Council’s view on whether an Environmental Impact Assessment would be required for such a proposal.
We continue to work with other relevant organisations and the local community, including the Save Roanhead group, and will give further updates, once we have had chance to see the proposals and consider next steps – we will need to carefully consider the relationship between this and the larger proposal already under consideration.

Roanhead Farm development risks irreparable harm to nature

We've joined forces with a coalition of nature and landscape charities to object to a serious threat to the internationally significant nature reserve at Sandscale Haws and wider Morecambe Bay and Duddon estuary.

Make a Stand on the Sand for Roanhead event makes the News

Our Make a Stand in the Sand event yesterday attracted 80 protestors, to save Roanhead from a 450 holiday lodge development right next to the National Trust Sandscale Haws nature reserve and many other protected sites for nature attracted 80 plus protesters and featured on BBC North West Tonight news. We also leafletted nearby housing about it.

Thanks to everyone who turned out for it. It was great to meet so many people and see how passionately concerned people are about the proposal.

If you agree that this wild place needs saving, please write to object before 23 July. Read our guide to how to do it: https://friendsofthelakedistrict.org.uk/roanhead

Watch the North West Tonight news feature about it.

450-Lodge Resort Development At Roanhead

A proposal for a 450-lodge holiday resort and facilities at Roanhead, between Barrow and Askam-in-Furness, threatens a stretch of coastline where there are multiple protected sites for nature as well as expansive views to the Lake District fells.

This area is popular with local people for quiet recreation, including walking and bird-watching. The proposal will harm the quality and experience of recreational opportunities, compromise the landscape, including tranquillity, and put pressure on the sensitive dune and intertidal habitats. The proposal is heavily reliant on access by car and there will also be impacts on the narrow local roads.

We fully recognise the need for regeneration in Barrow and for new jobs and opportunities to be brought to the area. We also understand the attractiveness of this coastal landscape. However, this proposal is not appropriate for this site for a number of reasons:

Impact on landscape character, including tranquillity
Visual impact
Light pollution impacts on dark skies and biodiversity
Impact on species and habitats
Impact on enjoyment by local people of an important, much-valued and accessible recreational resource
Traffic impacts on narrow local roads and a lack of sustainable transport
Instability of the land which is littered with former mine workings and have resulted in a number of sink holes opening up locally, including in recent years
Instead, new development should be focused on regenerating the town centre and brownfield sites and should be readily served by public transport.

For more news and the latest updates:

Join us to find out more about our work.

Banner image: Roanhead, Sandscale Haws, Walney and the Duddon seen from Black Combe, by Chris Howe

Share Your Views

We need your wonderful images of Roanhead and the surrounding area to let people know what is at stake with such a large development in this sensitive area. We'd also like to share comments about why you value Roanhead so that we get a better understanding of people's views about this proposal.

If you have pictures and /or comments that you are happy to share, please email them to [email protected]. Do please provide your details if you would like to be credited and rest assured we will only use them for our own charitable purposes. Thanks to all of you who have already sent us your images and words about this wonderful place. We'll continue adding them here and sharing via social media to let everybody know what is at stake.

Banner image: Roanhead plant life harebells by Jill Hempsall

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It's Time To Save Roanhead - Response Guidance

A NEW planning application has been submitted for the major resort development proposed at Roanhead. It will still have a huge impact on this sensitive coastline, even with a reduced number of lodges. Please join us again to challenge the proposal. Previous responses won't count and new responses need to reflect latest plans.
What We Can DO

Plans have been submitted for the development of a holiday lodge park at Roanhead, on the Furness coast. Here's what you can do.
What We Could LOSE

The proposal will harm the quality and experience of recreational opportunities, compromise the landscape, including tranquillity, and put pressure on the sensitive dune and intertidal habitats. The proposal is heavily reliant on access by car and there will also be impacts on narrow local roads.

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