Cumbrian Lodge Resort Back Before Planners

Specialist hospitality developer, ILM Group, has submitted a revised planning application for Roanhead Lodge Resort, a sustainably-designed destination that, it claims, will deliver over £10m of additional annual visitor spend to Cumbria’s economy.

If approved by Westmorland & Furness Council, the proposals for the site – located at Roanhead estate near Askam-in-Furness - will bring eco-friendly visitor accommodation and a range of brand-new facilities, to the Furness area.

Planned amenities include a health and wellness club, children’s activity zones, an education centre, and a brasserie, all of which will be open to the public. Conversations are also underway with several local community groups about giving them access to the facilities on site.

Listening to feedback

A previous application for Roanhead Lodge Resort was withdrawn in December 2023 so that ILM Group could review the extensive feedback received, in particular concerns expressed by environmental campaign groups.

Having listened to this feedback, ILM Group says its revised scheme represents a more balanced and sensitive approach that almost halves the number of lodges proposed on the resort from 450 down to 233.

In turn, this will significantly reduce the number of visitors to the site and potential associated impacts on the natural environment, they claim.

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.

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. Additionally, in direct response to concerns raised about potential disturbance to wildlife, dogs will no longer be allowed at the resort.