MP for Barrow and Furness, Michelle Scrogham, has backed groups campaigning against a proposed 233-lodge resort at Roanhead, on the west coast of the Furness peninsula.

In 2023, the prospect of thousands of additional visitors descending on protected habitats, which includes important breeding grounds for the rare natterjack toad, rallied communities, visitors, environmental organisations and residents of nearby Askam, Dalton and Barrow in Furness into action.

Landscape conservation charity, Friends of the Lake District is part of a coalition of nature and landscape charities that continues to work together to object to the serious threat to the internationally significant sites. They stand alongside The National Trust, which looks after Sandscale Hawes nature reserve, the Woodland Trust, the RSPB, the Amphibian and Reptile Conservation Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust and Cumbria GeoConservation. This coalition has been working closely with local community group ‘Save Roanhead’, which was set up to campaign against the proposals.

Michelle Scrogham MP said: “The proposed development at Roanhead would be disastrous, causing irreversible damage to this special place. It is not often that such a broad range of groups unite with local people to oppose a planning application in this way. This coalition of respected organisations have joined with residents because of the ecological importance of Roanhead and the threat that these plans would pose to endangered wildlife, coastal erosion, flood risk, and land instability.

“Roanhead is a place of international ecological importance and at the same time hugely valued by local people who have enjoyed and looked after this land for generations. We must ensure that it is protected to be enjoyed by future generations in the same way.”

The proposed site lies immediately adjacent to multiple protected sites of international importance for nature: The Duddon Estuary Site of Special Scientific Interest; Duddon Estuary Ramsar Site; Morecambe Bay Special Area of Conservation; and the Morecambe Bay and Duddon Estuary Special Protection Area would all be negatively impacted. The site would also border an area of Ancient Woodland and Sandscale Haws, a National Nature Reserve and Local Geological Site, as well as Roanhead Mines County Wildlife Site, all of which are under threat from the proposal.

Lorayne Wall, Head of Planning and Policy, Friends of the Lake District said: “Friends of the Lake District stands firm alongside the many local residents and environmental organisations that have also objected to plans for this resort and shares their deep concerns about the many impacts this proposal will have. In addition to harm to internationally important biodiversity, a development of the type and scale proposed will significantly compromise the local landscape, and local people’s enjoyment of it.”

Friends of the Lake District have supported the campaign group Save Roanhead since it began in early 2023. Claire Gould, a local resident and a member of the group praised the charity’s efforts: “They have come to meetings, explained the planning system and policies, shared template letters and answered our questions about the process. Their support gave us confidence to stand up and rally local. We have people to believe we can save a really important place.”

Friends of the Lake District has also submitted responses to Westmorland and Furness Council regarding an additional tourism development proposed on an adjacent site for 20 lodges, 22 caravan/motorhome pitches and other buildings.

Both developments would result in unacceptable harm to landscape, habitats and species. The date the applications will be determined by the Council has not yet been confirmed.