New golf course is teed up
HOUGHTON ON THE HILL IS LINKED TO 1,200 HOMES PLAN
MAJOR plans for an 18-hole golf course in the Leicestershire countryside look set to be given the goahead.
Members of Harborough District Council’s planning committee will meet on Tuesday to consider the scheme for farmland at Houghton on the Hill, east of Leicester.
Landowners Parker Strategic Land and Scraptoft Golf (Holdings) Ltd are seeking permission to build the course on land off Gaulby Lane.
The facility will become the new home of Scraptoft Golf Club if councillors accept the recommendation of planning officers to give the scheme the go-ahead.
The developer submitted plans for the project in 2019. It said that it was seeking outline planning permission to first establish the principle of the scheme.
If approved, a more detailed full planning application would be considered later this year.
The scheme includes a new clubhouse and a nine-hole academy course and driving range.
Scraptoft Golf Club’s current site at Scraptoft, a few miles away on the edge of the city, is the subject of a separate planning application.
Parker Strategic Land want to build 1,200 homes at the former PoW camp site, in Beeby Road, which is home to the golf club and a nature reserve.
Harborough District Council is yet to decide on the scheme, which opponents say would double the size of Scraptoft.
Tom Collins, a senior planning consultant representing Parker Strategic Land, said: “They are separate planning applications, but are intrinsically linked.”
He said progress on the new golf club scheme was essential for the “Scraptoft North” development to follow suit.
“We hope to bring the Scraptoft North plans before the planning committee by the end of this year,” he added. “But before then, we need to ensure the proposed relocation of the golf club is up and running.”
If councillors give their approval to the Houghton on the Hill plans, Mr Collins said that the aim is to start work on the new golf club early next year.
He added that it would then be “about two years” before it would open. Meanwhile, work is continuing on the Scraptoft housing plans.
Mr Collins said there is likely to be another public consultation later this year.
“A key point I want to stress is that Scraptoft Golf Club would own the freehold of the new golf club site,” he said.
“They are only leasing their current site so it would help secure its long-term future.”
Eight objections have been received by the council from the residents of six properties on the edge of the proposed new golf course.
They raise concerns about extra traffic on the A47, loss of privacy and the loss of countryside, with the River Sence running through the proposed site.
Mr Collins said proposed ecological enhancements would be included on the site to protect wildlife.
He added that reed beds and other measures would be installed to help reduce the risk of flooding in the area.
“The current agricultural use of the land is pretty intensive,” he said. “In terms of biodiversity, the measures we intend to introduce in creating the golf course will be a considerable improvement for wildlife and the environment.”
Planning officers, in their report to the planning committee, advise councillors to back the project.
They say that the proposed golf course fits in with the district’s local plan and would free up land for much needed housing.
Scraptoft Golf Club chairman Colin Griffiths said members were thrilled at the prospect of moving to a new home all of their own.
He has previously said: “We are really excited by the prospect of creating an entirely new, highquality course and academy facility.
“The new course has been designed by renowned golf course designer Ken Moodie with the assistance of ex-Ryder Cup player and TV commentator Ken Brown.
“We hope to attract new members to this beautiful location each side of the River Sence.”
The measures we intend in creating the golf course will be an improvement for wildlife
Tom Collins