Bowland Lakes Leisure Village Reveals £850k Plans for 10 Holiday Lodges in Forton

A leisure village near Lancaster has put forward plans for ten new holiday lodges, and six of them would take the place of fishermen’s huts that currently sit unused. Bowland Lakes Leisure Village, on Cleveley Bank Lane in Forton, has submitted the proposals to Wyre Borough Council, with the project estimated to cost more than £850,000. The plans have not been approved, and the application is still waiting for a decision.

Here is what has been proposed, what the park says the lodges would bring, and what an application like this can mean for people who already own a holiday home on a park.

What Bowland Lakes is proposing

According to the Blackpool Gazette, which reported the story on 15 October 2026, the park submitted its plans to Wyre Borough Council in September. The council’s description of the application is “change of use of land involving replacement of 6 fishermen huts with 6 holiday let lodges, installation of 4 additional holiday let lodges, replacement of workshop/storage building.”

The planning reference is 26/00757/FUL. Public planning listings show the application was received on 15 September 2026 and validated in early October 2026, with its status shown as pending consideration.

The key points reported so far are:

• Ten lodges in total. Six would replace existing fishermen’s huts and four would be new additions.
• A cost of over £850,000. This is the current estimate for the project, as reported.
• Year-round ownership and holiday rental. The lodges would be available both to own and to rent for holidays throughout the year.
• A tucked-away location. The lodges would be grouped in the north-eastern corner of the site and would use the park’s existing vehicle access from Cleveley Bank Lane.
• Decking and parking. Each lodge would have its own decking and a parking space alongside it.
• A replacement workshop. The application also includes replacing a workshop and storage building.

Why the fishermen’s huts are part of the plan

The most unusual part of the proposal is what happens to the existing huts. In its planning documents, Bowland Lakes describes them as “unfurnished, uninsulated, un-serviced and unusable shelters”. The Gazette reports that the condition of the huts has resulted in no bookings, and the park has described them as a “blight” on the wider site.

Turning tired, unused structures into holiday lodges is a practical approach that many parks consider when they look at how to make better use of the space they already have. Rather than expanding into fresh land, the plan focuses on a corner of the site that already holds buildings and already has access.

The case the park is making

Bowland Lakes points to demand for holiday lodge accommodation, saying it has grown strongly since the pandemic as more people in the UK choose to holiday at home. The staycation trend has been a common theme in park planning applications over the past few years, and this one follows that pattern.

The park also sets out what it sees as economic benefits. Its planning statement says: “The new development will add a further 2 x full-time equivalent member to the payroll to help with ground/site maintenance and cleaning of holiday homes, whilst supporting the local economy.” It adds that “the lodges will provide additional footfall for shops and services locally helping to sustain local jobs and services.”

These are the applicant’s own claims. Wyre Borough Council will weigh the proposal against its planning policies, and any consultation responses, before reaching a decision.

What happens next

The application is pending consideration. Nothing has been approved, and the details could change as the process goes on, whether through conditions, amendments or a different outcome altogether. Anyone who wants to follow the application, read the supporting documents or check whether comments are still being accepted should look up reference 26/00757/FUL on the Wyre Borough Council planning portal, which is the official record.

If the plans are approved, there is no confirmed timetable yet for when the lodges might be built or become available.

What lodge additions can mean for existing owners

When a park adds new holiday homes, existing owners often wonder how it might affect them. The honest answer is that it depends on the park, the plans and the individual owner, and there is no single outcome that applies everywhere.

Some owners see investment as a positive sign. Money spent on a site can suggest that the operator is committed to it for the long term, and replacing unused structures can tidy up an area that was not adding much. More holidaymakers can also mean more life on the park, and in some cases more demand for local services nearby.

Other owners may have different priorities. More units can mean more people and more cars, and some owners value a quieter setting above everything else. New lodges for ownership can also sit alongside existing holiday homes in the local market, which some owners keep in mind if they are thinking about selling in the future.

For most owners, the sensible step is simply to stay informed. Reading the published plans, checking where any new units would sit in relation to your own pitch, and speaking to the park team if you have questions will usually give a much clearer picture than speculation.

If you are weighing up the differences between owning a lodge and owning a static caravan, our guide on lodge vs static caravan and which holds value better looks at the factors that tend to matter.

Thinking about your own holiday home?

Whatever is happening on your park, plenty of owners reach a point where their plans change. If you own a static caravan or lodge in Lancashire, including around Blackpool and Morecambe, we are always happy to talk it through with no obligation. We also buy lodges, and you can find out more on our sell my lodge page.

We aim to contact you within 24 hours, and we aim to make an offer within 48 hours after that contact. Payment is made on collection day before the caravan is loaded.

For a friendly chat, call us free on 0800 644 5000 or visit www.staticcaravanbuyer.com.