A proposal to build 200 homes on the site of a 60-year-old golf course in Oxfordshire has ignited a wider national debate regarding land use, housing needs, and the loss of community sports facilities.
Developer Bloor Homes has submitted plans to redevelop part of Shrivenham Park Golf Club. The proposal has drawn opposition from local residents, golf officials, and the local Member of Parliament, while highlighting a growing trend of golf courses across the UK being targeted for residential development. A public inquiry into the plans is scheduled to begin on 22 September.
Bloor Homes intends to build 200 homes on 13 acres of the 70-acre Shrivenham Park site. A spokesperson for Bloor Homes stated that 35% of the scheme would be affordable homes and that it would "secure land for a community facility, whilst also providing a substantial permanent green gap between Shrivenham and Watchfield." The developer added that "the residual land being retained as public open space for community use."
However, club staff and members argue the loss of the course would severely impact the local community. Jim Boise, the greenkeeper and junior players' coach at Shrivenham Park Golf Club, described the club as a family and questioned the development.
"This is a grassroots club, it's for everybody, it's not elitist, you don't pay exorbitant fees to play golf here," Boise told BBC Oxford. Describing his colleagues as "like a family," he said the team was "devastated" by the prospect of losing the club, questioning the need to "spoil a lovely bit of land that's open to everybody" to build the houses.
Local residents also highlighted the club's affordability. Brenda, a local resident who uses the facility with her grandchildren, noted: "The class that my grandson's been doing cost £5 for a session, which is remarkable value compared to a lot of other sports and activities."
The situation at Shrivenham Park reflects a broader pattern across the country. England Golf, the governing body for amateur golf, warned of a significant rise in "proposals involving partial or full loss of golf provision" in recent years.
Gavin Anderson of England Golf expressed concern that the sites targeted for development are often those offering affordable, entry-level access. "When these facilities disappear, an entire pathway into the sport is put at risk," Anderson said.
Similar developments have moved forward elsewhere in the UK. In Stockport, approval was granted for 244 homes at the former Gatley Golf Course in Heald Green despite a 1,600-signature petition opposing it. In January, campaigners in Sussex protested a decision to close a local golf club to allow for 3,000 homes.
Conversely, housing advocates argue that golf courses represent an opportunity to address housing shortages. Ben Cooper, head of the left-leaning think tank the Fabian Housing Centre, stated that golf courses are often a poor use of land that could instead be used for housing.
Cooper argued that "affordable homes and genuinely accessible green spaces" were needed "in every part of the country," adding that building on golf courses was "a win-win for both" and could "better deliver great places to live."
Witney MP Charlie Maynard is supporting local opposition to the project, framing the golf course as a crucial local resource.
"This is a community asset, and it should be respected as such," Maynard said, warning that "once this is gone, it's gone." He described the site as "the green lung" between Watchfield and Shrivenham that the community relied on.
Maynard also raised concerns regarding the impact of additional residents on local infrastructure, including schools, sewage systems, and NHS services, which he noted were already under pressure.
Watchfield resident Chelsea Addis, who joined a local action group opposing the plans, echoed these infrastructure concerns. "When I first moved to Shrivenham seven years ago you could ring up [the local doctor's surgery] in the morning and have an appointment within four hours," Addis said, adding that the situation had "completely changed" in recent years and that additional housing would exacerbate the issue.
Environmental risks have also been cited due to the site's proximity to Tuckmill Meadows, a nature reserve designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest.
Sue Nodder, a member of the Save Shrivenham Park Golf Club action group, highlighted the threat to local wildlife, including otters, newts, birds, and rare plant species. "We're really worried that if development happens on the golf course, the disruption to the hydrology and the new people that come to the area, although unwittingly, they are going to destroy a very, very fragile habitat," Nodder said.
Source: Yahoo!news
