Huge new care home planned for Baughurst golf course

120-bedroom facility could help secure the long term future of Bishopswood

THE environmental impact of a huge care home proposed for open countryside at a Baughurst golf club will go before Tadley town councillors next week.

The screening application over the environmental impact of a part two- and three-storey, 120-bedroom care home, at Bishopswood Golf Course, Bishopswood Lane, will go before Tadley Town Council’s highways and planning committee on Monday.

The proposals include car parking for 70 vehicles and access on a one hectare site, along with visitors’ lounges and dining rooms, a day centre and ancillary facilities.

The golf club’s general manager, Kevin Pickett, said the golf course would most definitely remain open if the application got the go-ahead.

He said: “I can confirm that the golf course will remain open if all goes ahead.

“We are looking to secure the long-term future for Bishopswood and see this development as a positive for our long-term future along with the sustainability of a leisure facility in the local area.”

Mr Pickett added that the golf club was very much in favour of the application, and said the care home would not impact on the golf course, nor reduce this in size.

He said: “It won’t affect play. It’s in an area not in use (for golf) – it never will be.”

The screening application, submitted by Bournemouth-based town planning consultants Tanner and Tilley on behalf of the applicant, a Mr J Montgomery, states the development would be of “contemporary design and appearance”.

The site lies outside the settlement boundary, however the agents say it is immediately adjacent to a residential estate to the north and would be “carefully designed to minimise any effect on the character of the countryside and the openness of the surrounding area”.

The building will be part sunk into the ground and take advantage of the topography of the site, with boundary planting to be retained and reinforced.

The applicant also argues there are no designated nature conservation areas, areas of environmental protection or sensitive natural environments, or habitats affected by the proposed development.

It also claims that there would be no traffic, highway safety or transportation issues.

The town council’s highways and planning committee meeting follows the full town council meeting, which starts at 7.30pm on Monday at the town council offices in Franklin Avenue.

Viewpoints can also be emailed to the town council.

For more details, visit www.tadleycouncil.org, or call into the town council offices between 9.30am and 1.30pm, Monday to Friday

Any objections, or representations can also be sent to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, quoting reference 15/03026/ENSC.