A planning application for a £190million championship golf links, academy and resort in Hoylake could be submitted as early as next year, it was revealed today.
Wirral Council’s cabinet is expected to approve a report, which details the next steps, including a recommendation that a full planning application should be submitted by the developers in 2018.
Leader of the Council, Cllr Phil Davies, said: “The Hoylake Golf Resort will be a flagship development which will create hundreds of jobs for local people and support businesses across the borough.
“As a globally-significant tourism and leisure attraction, it will support growth in our vibrant tourism economy and attract thousands of additional visitors to Wirral every year.
“Building on the success of the 2006 and 2014 British Open Championships at neighbouring Royal Liverpool Golf Club Hoylake, the Golf Resort will cement Wirral’s leadership position with the international golf community, benefitting from the visitors, tourism revenues and global attention that recognition will bring with it.”
However, the latest news will not be welcome to all. An action group of people opposed to the development because of concerns about the environment, traffic, and the impact on the town of Hoylake has been set up.
The proposed Hoylake Golf Resort would see two new championship golf courses built including the only Jack Nicklaus designed municipal course in the country. The plans also include a luxury hotel, conference centre and new houses.
One of the biggest names in golf – Celtic Manor, the company behind the South Wales luxury resort which hosted the 2010 Ryder Cup and 2014 NATO summit, will manage the entire attraction and Story Homes will lead on the housing development, both working alongside Jack Nicklaus Joint Venture Group.
The plan details the funding options being proposed and indicates the returns the council could expect to see through leveraging its assets and covenant strength. It also provides the full financial proposal for how the development will be delivered and, subject to it being agreed at the meeting on 18 December, will allow for a full planning application to be submitted in 2018.
The full planning application would include the results of environmental and transport studies, and will also involve extensive public consultation with residents to ensure local views are considered and included in the final plans.
Once the developer has completed all the studies and finalized the design for the project, the Council will undertake further public consultation on the proposals prior to the planning application being submitted and then undertake further statutory consultation as part of the planning process.