Plans to demolish long established golf driving range to make way for housing

Plans have been lodged to demolish a golf driving range and develop the green belt land into housing. Kearsley Golf Centre, which has operated for more than 50 years at Moss Lane in the town, is the subject of development plans to build eight homes, some of which would be five-bedroom properties.

The centre’s owners plan to demolish the driving range along with a club house, support living accommodation and various outbuildings to make way for the small housing estate. Plans published by Bolton Council this week explain the context of the application.

A design and access statement, said: “The site was developed in the late 1960s and is still run as a family business today. There has been limited investment since its origin and currently requires extensive renovation to bring it up to the standards required for a modern golfing range club.

“Competition from new facilities such as the driving range at Trafford Golf Centre has created further difficulties with a decrease in demand, with the owners now contemplating closure.

“The site is within designated green belt. The proposal seeks to apply differing cumulative elements accepted in planning policy to qualify as a very special circumstances approach for the redevelopment of the site.

“The provision is for eight family dwellings consisting of properties in a range of sizes, 25 per cent of which are of an affordable housing tenure. There is a pronounced need for family housing within the area, with local residents and growing families wishing to remain within the existing community.”

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The application said the houses would be a mix of two, three, four and five