A plan to revamp a golf course has been described as ‘a step in the right direction#.
Billingbear Park is a ‘pay and play’, open-to-all facility on The Straight Mile. The majority of the site falls within the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, but the car park is within the Wokingham borough council boundary.
The owners have put forward an application to the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead for phased improvements to the site.
This revamp looks to build an outdoor putting course and a golf simulator building, including six bays and a teaching room. The marquee at the back of the clubhouse will be demolished and replaced with a new extension.
At an extraordinary Maidenhead development management committee meeting on Wednesday, Mark Batchelor – founding director of 4TY Planning Ltd, the applicant’s agent – said the course ‘must evolve’ to survive.
He said: “Like many courses, [Billingbear Park] faces a clear challenge; participation in golf is dwindling, and a loan would not sustain the site’s long-term viability.
“The site must evolve and offer new facilities which reflect how people want to be active today.”
With this in mind, other sports courts are also proposed on the site – namely three padel courts and two pickleball ones.
These are among the fastest-growing sports in the UK and appeal to a younger generation, Mr Batchelor said.
Councillor Helen Taylor said the plans were welcome in light of the loss of Maidenhead golf course, which is being redeveloped into a large housing scheme.
She praised Billingbear Park’s proactiveness in seeking to improve its situation.
“Golf courses are going down everywhere,” she said.
“There is one [around] Reading way that’s under threat as well.”
“To have [a course] wanting to face things head on … is a really good thing.”
She and others, including Cllr Clive Baskerville, were also keen to see golf become less ‘exclusive’.
Cllr Taylor said this course, not being membership-based, has the potential to be affordable for more people and could become a one-stop destination for different age groups and families.
Royal Borough officers were also in favour of the revamp.
Nick Westlake, principal planning officer at the Royal Borough, told the meeting why they recommended it for approval.
He said ‘one of the main drivers’ in national planning policy – which the authority must be mindful of – is to ‘get people into sport’ and other active recreation for their health.
“We are losing golf courses across the country… so, we believe the need [for this upgrade] is demonstrated,” said Mr Westlake.”
However, there were some qualms. Cllr Leo Walters noted that Waltham St Lawrence parish council had ‘grave concerns’ about the scale of the golf simulator, especially given its proximity to ancient woodland.
But planning officers said the simulator building would not have a significant negative impact on the green space.
Moreover, the applicant has already shown a ‘strong commitment to sustainability’ by planting more than 1,000 trees on the site, according to Mr Batchelor.
To be more sustainable, the course has transitioned to using electric maintenance equipment, moving away from equipment using less environmentally friendly fuels.
Ultimately, councillors unanimously voted to approve the plans to revamp the golf course.
Wokingham borough council had no objections to the overall proposals.
To view the full plans, insert 26/00128/FULL into www.rbwm.gov.uk.
