Rockingham Forest Park: Woodland Trust and Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs and Northants object to plans to add 80 lodges to holiday park
Conservation groups have said plans to expand a holiday park will damage neighbouring ancient woodland.
Rockingham Forest Park Ltd has applied to North Northamptonshire District Council for the change of use of a 22-acre site for 80 holiday lodges and a new facilities building, including a swimming pool, spa and restaurant.
The company opened 56 lodges within the 617-acre forest park, between King’s Cliffe and Wansford, in May 2021.
The lodges would be sited on open grassland, but the Woodland Trust believes it would cause the ‘deterioration’ of Great Byards Sale and Great Morton Sale, both designated ancient woodland by Natural England.
“When land use is intensified, such as in this situation, woodland plant and animal populations are exposed to environmental impacts from the outside of a woodland,” The Woodland Trust said in a letter of objection.
“In particular, the habitats become more vulnerable to the outside influences, or edge effects, that result from the adjacent land’s change of use.”
The Wildlife Trust for Beds, Cambs and Northants raised similar concerns during consultatations for phase one of the park’s development.
“This application would more than double the numbers of cabins within the park and, therefore, the number of visitors on site at any one time,” they said.
The trust said extra traffic could also disturb curlews which have been spotted next to the main access track. The bird is on the International Union for the Conservation Nature’s red list of threatened species.
Plans also ask for new drainage infrastructure along a disused railway line which is now a Local Wildlife Site.
Ian Sharpe, managing director of Rockingham Forest Park Ltd, said discussions were being held with all stakeholders to manage the impact on local wildlife and woodland. The firm is also working with ecology consultants Lockhart Garratt.
“We are also in the process of working towards Building with Nature accreditation which requires significant commitment in supporting wildlife and sustainability,” he said.
Mr Sharpe said he wanted to work closely with local parish councils and are arranging on-site meetings.
He added: “I totally understand the negativity a project of this nature will generate; I do believe from speaking to local business that the current phase of the development has seen a significant positive effect.”
