Controversial plans for a gondola-style cable car to the Whinlatter Forest Visitor centre could still be approved by National Park chiefs.

The scheme provoked a wave of opposition when it was suggested as part of a 15 year development plan for the Lake District.

References to the project have been dropped in the revised planning guidelines drawn up by the authority, although it says the idea has not been ruled out.

Other projects to develop 'Showcase Areas' at honeypot sites in Windermere, Keswick and Ullswater have also been scrapped following complaints that they would intensify tourism and would be unsympathetic to the environment.

And a plan to flatten The Royalty Cinema in Bowness and redevelop the site has also been shelved.

The National Park Authority’s Local Plan sparked outrage when it was produced last summer.

Critics, including charities The Friends of the Lake District and The Open spaces Society, feared the amount of development in the document could threaten the area’s status as a national park and as a World Heritage Site.

An eight-week consultation period resulted in a record level of response with more than 2,700 people sending in their views.

While there was fierce opposition to the cable car scheme and the tourist showcase areas, plans to increase the number of local homes from 900 to 1200 over the next 15 years were supported.

Tourism and parking plans also received backing - so long as they contributed towards local infrastructure and sustainable transport.

The public also showed support for protecting and enhancing important wildlife habitats, sites and species by requiring any developers to encourage an increase in biodiversity.

The new guidleines are revealed in a revised draft local plan. 

Steve Ratcliffe, director of sustainable development at the National Park Authority claimed the revised document remained ambitious.

He said: “Our draft Local Plan is ambitious and provides some fantastic opportunities for the future of the National Park to become an even better place to live, work and enjoy.

"It’s important all developments contribute in a positive way to this special place and our local communities.

"The Plan sets a framework for managing complex challenges, including climate change, community vibrancy, and helping to manage visitor pressures felt in certain areas of the Park.

"Our innovative new policies on farm diversification, car parking, biodiversity and securing contributions from developers, are just a few new ways to do this and will help us make a positive impact, both now and for the next 15 years.”

The revised Local Plan could be ready to start work this summer.

The next stage of the review is for members to approve the changes at the Authority’s Park Strategy and Vision committee on March 11.

There will then be an eight week period from April 8 when the document will be available to the public on the National Park website at www.lakedistrict.gov.uk/localplan