FACTS & FAQs

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Will it be good for the local economy?

No. The resort is designed to keep guests on site, with its own bars and restaurant as well as leisure facilities. 

In the planning application they also say that locals can go to their shop, bar and restaurant (so local pubs and eateries would take a hit)

How big would it be?

The size of a large village, with 450 chalets (like Center Parcs) in two phases, plus a large central entertainment 'hub'.

Askam & Ireleth (combined) are about the same size.

Are they building on the beach?

Nothing will be built on the beach. 

That's not the issue. Inviting between 130,000 and 400,000 tourists a year to stay so close to the beach would have a huge impact.

Do natterjack toads even matter?

All rare and endangered species matter. The UK is one of the most nature depleted countries in the world and despite nature struggling against all odds to survive, more than one in seven native species face extinction and more than 40% are in decline. (Source: WWF) 

It's awful how we're losing our wildlife. It has to be protected locally.

How many people would come?

If the resort was successful, there could be anything from 130,000* to 400,000** visitors per year. 

This assumes the rich tourists they hope to attract will actually come to stay near Barrow. 

* developer's estimate
** National Trust calculation based on number of lodges, rooms and applied occupancy rates from similar resorts

Where is it? 

450 lodges would be built across two phases on fields at Roanhead Farm. This is too close to protected areas, for example Sandscale Haws nature reserve.

The resort shouldn't be here, but no alternative location has ever been looked for. 

Even the council asked the developer to look at alternative sites, back in 2022. He didn't.  

Why do local papers call it a £100m holiday park?

£100m is what it will COST to build the resort. 

This will NOT bring that kind of money to Furness!

Isn't it good because it will bring jobs?

Cumbria Tourism and Cumbria Chamber of Commerce have both admitted that our hospitality industry is in crisis.

Hotels, restaurants and bars are really struggling to get staff. Cumbria doesn't have enough people to fill all the hospitality jobs here already. 

The resort would have to take staff from existing businesses. The future of other holiday parks, cottages and campsites is at risk from this development.

How will it affect local house prices?

We believe the impact of the Roanhead resort on local infrastructure would have damaging consequences for the local housing market. Local roads are unsuitable for the volume of traffic; sewers are not fit for current use. Exacerbating these problems would make Askam & Ireleth less attractive to the housing market, and house prices would fall.

Isn't Sandscale "derelict land"?

This is a huge misconception we've heard in Roanhead resort promotional material. Sandscale Haws is a nature reserve of international importance for its rare flora and fauna, and for its diversity in both. Its mining history gives the area archaeological importance. 

"It won't affect local people"

Landal GreenParks (the 'preferred operator' of the Roanhead resort operate a Monday / Friday changeover for ALL of their parks. Allowing time for housekeeping, changeover times are before 10am (checking out) and 3pm (check in). At these times our roads will be congested: the A590 will be a nightmare and local traffic will be diverted by satnav through Dalton, the centre of Barrow and around Ulverston. Local drivers would feel the impact in a very big way.