Golf club's 'eyesore' storage barn approved

PLANS for an “absolutely huge” storage barn at a South Gloucestershire golf club in the Green Belt have been approved, despite residents’ objections. Councillors granted permission for the 1,500 sq m U-shaped “eyesore” building around a new service yard at the Kendleshire course near Coalpit Heath, despite concerns about noise, fumes, its size and “industrial” appearance, the impact on wildlife and danger of stray golf balls from the neighbouring driving range.

Development management committee members heard the 7m-high structure would be used to keep trailers, mowers, fuel and equipment, replacing an existing off-site store which is being bulldozed and replaced with five homes.

But residents are angry because they believed planning consent had been granted for the grounds store’s demolition and new houses at nearby

Henfield Farm on the basis that the club would not require a new building, and would move the vehicles and machinery into existing facilities at the course.

Eight residents objected to the barn, which will be 55 metres (180ft) long and 33m (108ft) wide on its wings.

Committee member Brian Hopkinson (Con, Charlton & Cribbs) told the meeting on April 13: “What a massive building in the greenbelt - it’s absolutely huge.

“This situation where they get rid of buildings because they don’t need them for storage of equipment and then you get houses put in there, and they come back with this plan which is going to be absolutely terrible, I find this absolutely crazy - I just hate it.

“It’s running rings around our officers, and it’s not good.”

Mike Bell (Lab, Staple Hill & Mangotsfield) said: “I’m voting against it. The building will be an eyesore because of its size in the greenbelt.”

Neighbour David Tooze told members: “This is a massive 1,500 sq m intrusion into the Green Belt that happens to be twice the size of the existing facilities.

“It is not for recreational purposes, there is no benefit for the golfers or anyone else: it’s purely to enable financial gain to be made in an application to build five luxury houses on the current site of the existing facilities.”

However, council officers recommended giving the go-ahead after concluding the impact on residents and the building’s design were not unacceptable - and because national planning policy gives golf clubs and other outdoor sports facilities an exception for development in the Green Belt as long as they “preserve the openness” of the countryside.

They said the grounds store was essential for the club’s operations, the floorspace was justified and the applicants had reduced the height by one metre during the planning process.

Officers also agreed it was reasonable for the equipment to be kept in a secure and central location at the course.

Colin Hunt (Con, Emersons Green): “This application is in the greenbelt but it is a recreation, a sport, which allows for development in the greenbelt.

“Golf courses need places to maintain and store. I can’t see much of a problem.”

Councillors voted 5-2 in favour of granting permission, with an additional condition to have netting at the end of the driving range to stop golf balls being hit into a fishing lake beyond it, which has been annoying local anglers.

By Adam Postans, Local Democracy Reporting Service