THE likely future operator of a holiday lodge resort at Roanhead has 'suspended discussions' with the developer.

Landal GreenParks was named in a scoping request in November 2022 before the main application submission as the operator of the proposed site at Roanhead Farm. 

The holiday resort operator manages parks across the UK, including Whitbarrow near Penrith. 

ILM Group submitted plans to build a £100 million 450-lodge holiday resort to Westmorland and Furness Council in June.

However the plans have been met with objections since then including from the National Trust, Friends of the Lake District and Cumbria Wildlife Trust. 

The potential park operator has now thrown the future of the resort into question.

A spokesman for Landal GreenParks said: "We are aware of the concerns of various environmental organisations in respect of the proposed Roanhead resort project.

"At this stage, Landal GreenParks emphasises that whilst it is willing to collaborate with ILM Group for the development of a new resort destination, it has decided to suspend discussions on the project until a revised plan has been created that satisfactorily addresses the challenging ecological and environmental concerns and results in the conditional support of Westmorland and Furness Council.

"For clarity, Landal GreenParks are not financially involved in the Roanhead project, nor any other project in the UK.”

The National Trust-owned Sandscale Haws Nature Reserve sits adjacent to the proposed site. 

READ MORE: National Trust fears Roanhead resort could cause 'serious harm'

Dan Taylor, from the trust, said: "Our major concern is that this significant development would seriously harm the rare and fragile habitats and species of the reserve and the wider estuary." 

A 'Save Roanhead' campaign group was formed in opposition to the resort and has staged a protest at Barrow Town Hall. It handed a 7,000-signature petition with more than 3,300 objections to Barrow's mayor Chris Altree. 

The developer claims that the lodges would generate 279 new jobs and bring £200 million to the local economy over its first decade in business. 

Ecologist Chris Schofield, from environment consultancy Enzygo, supported the development.

He said: "A wide range of measures would be put in place to produce a net gain in biodiversity at Roanhead Farm.

"The resort will also work with the local planning authority and key stakeholders to agree additional plans to help manage nearby habitats responsibly and will offer a level of protection to these ecosystems."

A spokesman for ILM Group declined to comment.