A WILDLIFE group has labelled plans for a new holiday resort in the Furness peninsula as ‘completely inappropriate’ for the location.

Cumbria Wildlife Trust has submitted an objection to Westmorland and Furness Council over plans for the proposed Roanhead Lodge Resort.

The new scaled-back proposals will include the installation of 233 lodges, nearly half the previously proposed 450 lodges for the site, which the developers said would ‘significantly’ reduce the number of visitors to the site and potential associated impacts on the natural environment.

However, the wildlife trust state: “We consider that the scale and nature of the proposal is completely inappropriate at this environmentally-sensitive location and that because of the likely adverse impacts on the adjacent sites, in particular Sandscale Haws National Nature Reserve, the planning application should be rejected.

“The Trust considers that the location of the proposed development, so close to the nearby highly protected sites and their associated protected species, is highly likely to have significant and long-term adverse impacts on the integrity of the special and sensitive ecological features present.”

According to the trust the proposals may have an impact on the Duddon Estuary Ramsar Site, Morecambe Bay and Duddon Estuary Special Protection Area (SPA), Morecambe Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC), Duddon Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI); and, Sandscale Haws National Nature Reserve (NNR).

The trust says internationally important populations of protected species including natterjack toads, large numbers of many breeding and over- wintering bird species and rare species of plants, fungi, mammals and invertebrates are ‘likely to be sensitive to the negative environmental impacts’ of the proposed development.

The developers ILM Group previously said it had been working with a natterjack toad specialist to consider the population of this important species in and around nearby Sandscale Haws. This includes introducing specially designed natterjack toad habitat creation and contributions to off-site habitat creation and management, as well as additional measures to minimise potential harm from the road network.

According to the developers the scheme does not encroach on any protected ecological areas and, as part of the new masterplan, buffer zones between the resort and designated nature sites has been expanded.

The developers said in the new plans ‘buffer zones’ between the resort and designated nature sites have been expanded. Greater protection has also been afforded to the nearby ancient woodland and the construction access to the site has been moved away from this area, said ILM.

Andrew Coutts, CEO of ILM Group previously said: “We recognise the strength of feeling relating to our previous proposals and have listened intently to feedback, evolving our approach to provide a new masterplan for Roanhead Lodge Resort that is much more balanced and sensitive to the surrounding environment.”