Barrow Town Council has strongly objected to plans for a leisure retreat on the Furness peninsula.
Queensland Country Park Ltd wants to build a sustainable leisure retreat on land off Hawthwaite Lane in Roanhead, attracting between 6,000 and 9,000 visitors a year.
Its plans lodged with Westmorland and Furness Council reveal it would include 23 holiday lodges, 10 glamping pods, 24 caravan/motorhome pitches, a facilities building, an amenity block and a booking office.
It said: “The application seeks to provide a low-impact, sustainable, leisure retreat for visitors to Roanhead, and for local residents.”
But Barrow Town Council said the proposed development was in an unsuitable site and would have a detrimental effect on existing wildlife.
The town council added it had concerns over sewage disposal and said the plans would create an excess of vehicles on roads.
The applicant said an aim of the development was to provide ecologically friendly leisure accommodation that would promote the physical and mental health of its visitors.
According to a worst case traffic scenario analysis by Turner Lowe Associates, the Queensland Country Park application proposal would have a negligible effect on queuing at, and on the capacity of, the A590/Oak Lea Road junction and the A590/Park Road junction.
This is alone, or in combination with, the neighbouring Roanhead Lodge Resort proposal, planning documents state.
However, the applicant distances itself from plans for Roanhead Lodge Resort and added this application does not include any on site bar, restaurant, café, indoor sports facilities or any indoor events/meeting areas.
It added: “In short, the applicant merely wishes to provide eco-friendly lodge accommodation and touring caravan facilities, of appropriate scale, for visitors and local people wishing to enjoy the unique experience and tranquillity associated with Roanhead and this part of the Cumbrian coastline.
According to the proposals there will be direct employment benefits and further indirect employment benefits for the local economy from visitors wishing to visit Barrow and Dalton town centres as well as Askam village.
Developer ILM Group has lodged plans for the Roanhead Lodge Resort on a neighbouring site for 233 lodges, nearly half the previously proposed 450 lodges for the site.
It claims it would significantly reduce the number of visitors to the site and potential associated impacts on the natural environment.
ILM Group add independent economic consultants Hatch project the Roanhead Lodge Resort would also provide an estimated £10.8m annually in visitor spending for Cumbria.
However, the proposals have faced opposition with Barrow Town Council labelling the type of development totally unsuitable for the area and state it would have an overbearing impact on the countryside.
Friends of the Lake District, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and the National Trust, among other organisations, have objected to the proposals. Campaign group Save Roanhead’s petition also has nearly 8,500 signatures against the plans.
