Habitat 'concerns' despite scaled back lodges plan

Natural England said without further information it may have to object to revised plans for lodges at Roanhead

Concerns about the environmental impact of a new resort remain despite the number of planned lodges being almost halved, a government advisor has said.

ILM Group initially applied to build 450 lodges at Roanhead Farm, near Askam in Cumbria, but later revised the plans to 233.

However, Natural England, the government’s advisory body for the natural environment, said there was "insufficient information" in planning documents and it may object to the plans.

The developer said the revised plans would "significantly" reduce the number of visitors to the site and potential impacts on the natural environment.

The previous 450-lodge scheme, withdrawn in November, was found to be "inappropriate" by wildlife groups, due to the "delicate" ecology of the area, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The withdrawn plans had led to 3,700 letters and a 7,000 signature petition opposing the scheme, as well as objections from Natural England, the National Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Friends of the Lake District.

'Still unsure'

According to the developer 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 had been expanded.

Greater protection had also been given to nearby ancient woodland and the construction access to the site had been moved away from this area, the ILM said.

Natural England said it remained "unsure of whether the mitigation put forward was securable, actionable and suitable" under the Conservation of habitats and species regulation of 2017.

The body also said it required an updated habitats assessment for the proposed development.

Andrew Coutts, CEO of the ILM Group, had 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 that is much more balanced and sensitive to the surrounding environment."