Surrey national to close?

[Oddsocks]

Living very close to the course there are very strong rumours in the community that it's to be sold off to property developers in the near future.

In recent years they have developed the Chaldon area heavily with apartment blocks and some very expensive housing developments but with the course being an asset to the area it would be a loss although the land it's on is potentially worth millions.

Be interesting to hear if any one has heard the same?

 

[Leftie]

HID's hairdresser who lives in Coulsdon has heard similar rumours.

 

[Oddsocks]

Be a massive Shane if it does go.

 

[USER1999]

Be a massive Shane if it does go.

Really?

Don't you just love spell checker!

 

[Oddsocks]

That will teach me for not proof reading before pressing post!

It will be a shame to see it go, wonder if they will just move the members to another of their courses or look to buy another in the local area

 

[Luca4]

Need to use my flightscope session up quickly then!

 

[Oddsocks]

:rolf:

Not sure when it/if it's happening but I've got two lessons and a nine hole course lesson to use too

 

[diesel75]

Nearby Chessington golf course and range is closing for the same reason, property developing. Prime location opposite the train station, such a shame.

 

[Oddsocks]

Seems a nationwide thing. The land that Surrey national is on is massive. I reckon you'd easily fit 1500-2000 small terraced houses. If you went with posh detached ones may 750-1000

 

[Swingalot]

Planning laws have changed and any course that is on the edge or within a built up environment will now have this threat or in some cases opportunity hanging over their heads, especially in areas where housing is short.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Nearby Chessington golf course and range is closing for the same reason, property developing. Prime location opposite the train station, such a shame.

Not surprised and thought it's done well to last from the mid 80's when it started

 

[SammmeBee]

Good news for the other local courses.....

 

[Oxfordcomma]

Planning laws have changed and any course that is on the edge or within a built up environment will now have this threat or in some cases opportunity hanging over their heads, especially in areas where housing is short.

Very important that the council has everything nailed down with a local plan for new housing too. It hasn't affected a course near me, but there is a new development around 500 yards from my house on a greenfield site. Local residents, councils, MP, etc, all 100% against it but the developers won their appeal on the grounds that no confirmed local plan existed .

 

[Oddsocks]

So would I be right in saying that under these new laws, if the owner want to sell for the development it's a lot easier?

It's really strange as from the group Surrey national and westerham are the two strongest clubs. I can only imagine the sale would be so investment could be made into the others such as rumours about lodges/small hotel/new club house at the addington and the new range and par 3 course that's gone it at westerham .there was also rumours of club house extensions going in at westerham too.

 

[chrisd]

Very important that the council has everything nailed down with a local plan for new housing too. It hasn't affected a course near me, but there is a new development around 500 yards from my house on a greenfield site. Local residents, councils, MP, etc, all 100% against it but the developers won their appeal on the grounds that no confirmed local plan existed .

Were going through the same thing just now, the first inklings of it were just at Christmas and the village now is massing to put our own plans in place - it's not to stop any development but to have want WE want to help and enhance the area. Luckily our Borough Council does have a robust local plan. This plan is for a nearby field though and doesn't in any way affect my golf club which is also looking to sell for housing/industrial and move to a new site

 

[bobmac]

there is a new development around 500 yards from my house on a greenfield site. Local residents, councils, MP, etc, all 100% against it but the developers won their appeal on the grounds that every councillor has his/her price.

Probably nearer the truth

 

[chrisd]

Probably nearer the truth

Not necessarily!

The Government changed planning laws a little way back to stop all the so called NIMBY's from stopping much needed housing development. They instructed all Councils ( Borough and Parish) to have in existence a "local plan" to build houses etc and many were very slow off the mark to draw them up.

Planning firms like Gladman have sized on this weakness and, as they have done in my village, looked around where land can be negotiated with, say, farmers and put in place planning applications (some wholly inappropriate), the local Councils generally reject them but then they immediately appeal to the Government based on the lack of a local plan and in a number of cases win.

Our problem is that our local plan is comingt to the end of its term and this planning firm are trying to exploit that., although the Councils new plan will serve the housing needs of the Borough until 2030

 

[delc]

Apart from playing golf, I also fly light aircraft and gliders. Airfields have a similar problem to golf courses and school playing fields, in that they are much more valuable as housing development land than for their current use. A few back handers from the property developers and, Bob's your uncle, the Local Councils grant planning permission for change of use. Quite a few airfields are under threat at the moment, and they count as brownfield sites, so even easier to redevelop than golf courses. Having said that, a lot of Golf courses in the South-East seem to be under threat at the moment.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Apart from playing golf, I also fly light aircraft and gliders. Airfields have a similar problem to golf courses and school playing fields, in that they are much more valuable as housing development land than for their current use. A few back handers from the property developers and, Bob's your uncle, the Local Councils grant planning permission for change of use. Quite a few airfields are under threat at the moment, and they count as brownfield sites, so even easier to redevelop than golf courses. Having said that, a lot of Golf courses in the South-East seem to be under threat at the moment.

There is plenty golf courses around the south east - some closing will actually help a lot

Mentmore closing helped out a lot of clubs in the area

 

[Crazyface]

Good news for the other local courses.....

But not for players. Less courses to choose from. More competition for membership. Price hikes !!!!