112-year-old English golf course to close as housing developers move in

A popular English golf course is to close to make way for new houses.

The ongoing legal battle between Stockport Council and Hollins Strategic Land came down to a final hearing on Tuesday, in which Christopher Katkowski KC, representing the developer, said building on the course is “self-evidently a benefit of the greatest weight” because “the need for new homes is chronic”.

The council rejected plans in September for 278 new homes on Gatley Golf Club, a nine-hole layout in Greater Manchester which dates back to 1912, but has since been told by the government it must double the number of houses it is building each year.

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Mr Katkowski argued that the lack of housing in the borough has been an “abject failure”, while John Hunter, representing the council, said building on Gatley Golf Club would have a “very significant adverse effect on the provision of open space and recreational facilities which has not been adequately mitigated or compensated for”.

The decision now lies in the hands of the planning inspector.

In February, representatives of Hollins Strategic Land said they were “listening to the community” about its concerns for the privately-owned land, but pushed ahead despite a petition from local residents reaching almost 2,000 signatures.

Anne Foulkes told the Manchester Evening News: “My parents were heavily involved in the club, my father was treasurer and captain, his picture is still up and their ashes are scattered on the club, so it’s quite an emotive thing for me.

“If it does have to go it should be for something like for like so the next generation have something similar to what we had.

“If the club was struggling then they could have asked the community for help but they haven’t given it that chance. It seems a crime against the local community to lose this beautiful space.”

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David Acheson, meanwhile, said he wanted to re-join Gatley but the members had already decided to sell.

“I would join the club in a heartbeat if I could,” he said. “It’s my local club but the members have not made a real fight to keep it alive. I’m against the new housing development, what we all want is to see the course saved.”

The planning inspectors decision is expected in the coming days.

Alex Perry is the Associate Editor of bunkered. A journalist for more than 20 years, he has been a golf industry stalwart for the majority of his career and, in a five-year spell at ESPN, covered every sporting event you can think of. He completed his own Grand Slam at the 2023 Masters, having fallen in love with the sport at his hometown club of Okehampton and on the links of nearby Bude & North Cornwall.

Associate Editor