King Charles writes back to Roanhead lodge protest group over proposal

Opponents of a proposed holiday resort in Furness have received a letter from King Charles, confirming that he has taken “careful note” of their concerns.
The letter, sent by the King’s correspondence secretary to Save Roanhead Campaign founder Kelly Holland, states that His Majesty remains “deeply committed” to protecting the environment.
This development comes as ILM Group submits revised plans to Westmorland and Furness Council for the Roanhead Lodge Resort. According to the developers, the project could generate around £10 million in extra annual visitor spending for Cumbria. Kelly Holland said the message from the King has given the campaign fresh motivation.
She said: “The Save Roanhead campaign has grown far beyond what I first imagined. It shows how many people want to protect Roanhead from the damaging effects that large-scale tourism could bring to this fragile area. We will soon publish the latest letter of support from Buckingham Palace on our Facebook page.
“We will continue to oppose any development that threatens this sensitive landscape, and the encouragement from His Majesty has strengthened our resolve.”
In the updated plans, ILM Group has increased the size of buffer zones between the resort and protected nature sites. Additional measures have also been introduced to safeguard ancient woodland, including relocating the site’s construction access point away from vulnerable areas.
To address concerns about wildlife disturbance, dogs will no longer be permitted at the resort.
ILM Group CEO Andrew Coutts said: “We understand the concerns surrounding our earlier proposals and have paid close attention to local feedback. Our revised masterplan aims to be more balanced and more considerate of the surrounding environment.”
The developers say the project could create 209 construction jobs and 184 permanent roles once operational, with 164 positions based directly at the resort. They also plan to establish a training academy offering apprenticeships.
Coutts added: “This development represents a significant opportunity to boost the local visitor economy, generate employment, and provide high-quality facilities. With appropriate infrastructure and professional management, the resort can support sustainable economic growth and benefit the wider community.”
The lodges will be built from sustainable materials and feature green roofing, high insulation, and low-carbon heating systems.
Developers are also consulting a natterjack toad specialist to protect the species found around Sandscale Haws. Plans include creating dedicated habitats both on-site and off-site and implementing measures to reduce risks from nearby roads.
Jo Lappin, CEO of the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “The LEP supports developments that provide visitors with better access to the county’s outstanding natural and cultural attractions. The Roanhead Lodge Resort will give people a strong base for exploring the Furness Peninsula. It is encouraging to see the developers taking local feedback seriously in their updated proposals.”
The scaled-back plans now propose 233 lodges, roughly half of the earlier 450-lodge design. Developers say the reduction will significantly decrease visitor numbers and help limit environmental impacts.
The King’s correspondence secretary wrote: “The King has asked me to thank you for your letter and to say that His Majesty has taken careful note of the ‘Save Roanhead’ campaign.”