Historic Newbury and Crookham Golf Club looks to secure its future with new clubhouse and houses

A Newbury golf club is hoping to mark its 150th anniversary next year with a new clubhouse – funded by 31 new houses on the corner of the site.

Newbury and Crookham Golf Club – the seventh oldest in England – is working with developer Chartfield Homes on dual planning applications.

The first is to replace the club’s clubhouse on Bury's Bank Road, seen as the heart of the club’s community, which has fallen into a state of disrepair, while the second is for 31 homes in the westernmost corner of the club’s land, between Bury's Bank Road and Pigeons Farm Road.

The homes would be a mix of detached and semi-detached homes with between three to five beds. None, however, will be classed as ‘affordable’ as it would “undermine the viability of the overall development package”.

A new access road would be built off Bury's Bank Road into the development, while the course’s 14th and 15th holes will be modified slightly to facilitate the development.

The plans came about after the club, which has been on its current site for around 100 years and is run by its members, found it difficult to find funds for the “much-needed” upgrade of the clubhouse, with all funds going back into the day-to-day running of the club.

The new clubhouse is viewed as essential to secure the club’s future, so after exploring various options, the members agreed to seek planning permission for housing on an unused part of its site.

It has been working with Chartfield Homes to create a “sympathetic, small residential development” on its western borders.

Club chairman Steve Myers said: “We are incredibly proud to have been a key part of the Newbury community for almost 150 years and we’d love to be here for the next 150 years.

“The proposed new clubhouse and housing development is vital if we want to ensure future generations can enjoy golf on this beautiful and much-loved local course.”

He added that the club was “extremely proud” of the design of the new clubhouse by architects Piper Whitlock.

It will house a number of facilities, including a new restaurant and bar, and will provide an “exciting new events venue” for the area if approved.

Chartfield’s managing director Richard Potts said the company was “delighted” to be working on the scheme, adding: “We have worked with the project architects and landscape consultants, as well as the club, to produce a layout of individually designed homes that fit in well with the character of the area and are sympathetically and attractively designed to best complement the outstanding environment in which they will be located.

“The mix of three, four and five bedroom homes will provide new families and potential members with a lovely enclave in which they can raise their families in a tranquil and green environment.”

The applications will now go to West Berkshire Council for consideration.