Fresh plan to build houses over Kearsley Golfing Range

The former Kearsley Golf Driving Range, just off Moss Lane, closed its doors for the last time at the start of 2023.

Now developers have put forward an outline plan to demolish the old driving range facility and build seven new single storey houses over the space.

Cllr Debbie Newall, of Kearsley, said: “It’s an outline application which means they are asking in theory if they can build houses on there.

“And if that’s granted then they will have to submit plans for the houses themselves so people will have a fuller idea about what they want to build then.”

If the plan is approved the old facilities will be demolished (Image: Public)

The golf range closed down in January 2023 after more than 50 years in the business citing the “economic climate.”

The site has been empty ever since with previous plans have aimed to build eight homes between two and five bedrooms on the land.

But the latest scheme will aim instead to build seven houses, all of them with three bedrooms and garden and parking spaces.

An outline plan has been submitted (Image: Fuzed Architecture and Design)

Cllr Newall said: “It’ll go to planning officers and it’ll go to committee if I request it or if enough people object.

“So it’s quite a lengthy process really.”

Cllr Newall said that as a member of Bolton Council’s planning committee she could not comment at this stage as to whether she supported the bid or not.

The golf range has been closed for more than a year (Image: Public)

But she advised people who wanted to make comments either supporting or opposing the plan to get in touch with the council’s planning control department.

The developers behind the scheme have said they believe it could help meet Kearsley’s growing need for houses.

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A statement by Fuzed Architectural and Design on behalf of applicants Michael and Wendy Warburton said: “The site offers a unique opportunity to create seven much needed new dwellings in an area with a strong community presence.

“Further to the previous application, ongoing thought and consideration has been invested into the scheme by providing homes for the community, suitable for families, the changing demographic and the varying housing demands in the area.

“Facilitating social diversity by providing an opportunity for family and individuals with specific access needs in this modest scale of development.”

Bolton Council will aim to decide whether or not to approve the outline plans by Thursday April 18 this year.