Fears golf club homes would 'destroy green lung'

Golfers at a club that has existed for more than a century have said they fear for its future with hundreds of homes being planned for the site.

The former family-run Beeston Fields Golf Club in Nottinghamshire was founded in 1923 but was sold to Cilldara Group in November 2024.

Initial plans submitted to Broxtowe Borough Council include up to 500 homes, a care home, mobility hub, cafe and a park, though full planning permission has not yet been requested.

Locals and some of the club's 450 members are campaigning against the plans but the landowner said up to two thirds of the site would be retained as parkland.

Cilldara said the events venue and golf clubhouse would remain as part of its scheme, with the golf course not closing until at least March 2028.

It added the club had been running at a loss for a number of years.

According to Custodian Golf, a firm that supports clubs in relocating, one in five clubs in Britain is facing closure.

It comes as Mapperley Golf Club also comes under threat of closure after being earmarked for 750 homes.

Among those concerned about the plans, is 67-year-old Toni Shepherd, who said: "My own son took up golf here from the age of 19.

"It seems to be that golf courses are open season now [for housing] and I am worried that this will happen across the country."

Dad-of-two Paul Purewal has been a member of the club for 22 years and his children had lessons there from the age of six.

"This place is the lungs of Beeston, it provides shelter and habitat for the wildlife," he said.

"Everybody knows each other and looks out for each other. I moved to this house partly because it adjoins the golf course.

"It's a tragedy on the golfing front and for the entire area of Beeston."

Purewal said some members had already left after hearing about the plans.

"The social fabric of the place has been torn apart," he said.

Juliette Sunderland lives in Beeston and has been having lessons at the golf club.

She said: "Environmentally, it feels like a grave sin to destroy Beeston's green lung by building 500 homes on it.

"The impact on wildlife, trees, drainage and traffic pollution, along with increased congestion, is just not right."

Chryse Tinsley from the Beeston Civic Society, said housing developments "will always be contentious".

"I think there is a need for housing and in Beeston there is a massive shortage," she said.

"I think there's a potential for a good development with a proper rigorous planning process."

Some residents have raised concerns about Broxtowe Borough Council's decision not to require a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Labour MP for Broxtowe Juliet Campbell said she had met with the Cilldara Group to "share concerns that residents' have raised with me about infrastructure including health, education and transport, biodiversity, green space, and the future of the golf club".

She said she was in support of the government's house building plans but added: "I remain concerned by the decision by Broxtowe Borough Council to not require an Environmental Impact Assessment given the size and location of this development."

A spokesman for Cilldara, said: "We have launched a public consultation regarding the opportunity to open up two-thirds of the site, some 74 acres, for all to enjoy.

"This could provide an extensive country park, play space, a gym trail, new walks and cycleways, as well as places to socialise such as a cafe.

"The existing events venue and club house would remain and much-needed pockets of new homes and a care home facility, all set within existing woodland and new landscaping, could be delivered on around a third of the site.

"The team is updating the masterplan to incorporate the many constructive comments and ideas we have received, and we look forward to sharing more information in the coming weeks."

A Broxtowe Borough Council spokesperson said a full EIA was not required as the development is "too small", but added that further environmental surveys will be required with the eventual planning application.

"Issues such as the impact on neighbours amenity, mitigation measures for the impact on wildlife and the traffic assessments will all be assessed as part of the planning application," it said.

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