Lake District charity welcomes withdrawal of Roanhead Farm plans

The resort near Askam was backed by Cumbria Tourism but attracted opposition elsewhere

A charity has welcomed news that plans to build a holiday resort in the Lake District have been withdrawn.

Friends of the Lake District said it believed the plans for the 450-lodge development were "inappropriate".

Developer ILM Group wanted to built the resort at Roanhead Farm, near Askam, but the plans proved controversial.

This week ILM withdrew its planning application and said it was "taking time to review [its] plans".

'Relieved'

Friends of the Lake District planning officer Lorayne Wall said they were "pleased and relieved that this application has been withdrawn".

"It is testament to the strength of concern expressed about the proposals," she said.

"A holiday resort is simply inappropriate for an area protected at an international level, and so highly valued by so many for its wildlife, landscape, and the sense of peace and tranquillity it offers to the residence of Furness and beyond."

The proposals for the Roanhead Eco-Lodge Resort included indoor and outdoor leisure facilities, a residential student training academy and a bar and brasserie, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

'Review our plans'

The development plans had been controversial and a petition called Save Roanhead from Developers received more than 7,000 signatures.

In October, the project suffered a blow when the site's expected operator, Landal GreenParks, "suspended discussions" with the developer until environmental concerns were addressed.

ILM's managing director Andrew Coutts said: "Whilst we stand firm in our belief that a resort in this location can deliver significant benefits to the Furness area and support ambitions to grow the local economy, we are taking time to review our plans in light of the feedback received during the planning process."