Cleeve Hill Golf Club in Gloucestershire has submitted a planning application to build a new clubhouse which will provide a community hub for anyone visiting the site.
The planning application, submitted to Tewkesbury Borough Council, represents a significant milestone in the Cotswold Hub vision to create a destination “where golfers, cyclists, walkers, horse riders, and wildlife enthusiasts all share a common interest… the unique Cleeve Hill.”
Since taking over the 125-year lease in 2021, the team at Cotswold Hub – which comprises the golf club, the Cotswold Way Café and Flynn’s Restaurant – has been working to deliver on its promise to completely transform the clubhouse facilities while respecting the surroundings of Cleeve Common, the largest common in Gloucestershire and home to an Old Tom Morris designed golf course.
The proposed new clubhouse will replace the existing building with a modern facility that is sensitive to its surrounding with a lower visual impact. The development includes an enhanced restaurant and café facility with outdoor terracing offering panoramic views towards the Malvern Hills, improved amenities for golfers, and community spaces designed to accommodate the diverse range of visitors to Cleeve Hill.
Designs for the new clubhouse include timber-clad walls and public community spaces beyond traditional golfing demands
“This planning submission marks an exciting step forward in our commitment to creating facilities that serve both our golfing community and the wider public,” said Simon Pope, general manager of Cleeve Hill Golf Club. “We have enjoyed the journey so far and feel that this development will provide a big step in fulfilling our dream to create an environment that represents the future of golf whilst embracing all the users of the common.”
The new building will feature locally sourced materials including larch timber cladding and Cotswold stone boundary walls, reflecting the agricultural character of the area while meeting modern sustainability standards.
Michael Bates, clerk of the Cleeve Common Trust, a charity which manages the land, said: “Over the years we have seen ever more visitors to the Common, for outdoor recreation or simply to enjoy the space, views, fresh air and the unique natural environment. The new building will provide a first-class focal point, not only for visitors to Cleeve Comon but also the wider Cotswolds region.”
Cllr Richard Stanley, leader of Tewkesbury Borough Council, said: “Cleeve Hill is a very important part of our natural landscape, and The Cotswold Hub has worked hard to transform the public facilities at the golf club to serve a wide range of visitors already. They’ve brought in Flynn’s restaurant and the Cotswold Way café since they rescued the club from the threat of closure in 2021. These new plans show their aspirations for the next chapter. For now, it’s over to the council’s planning team and consultees to evaluate everything and we await their conclusions.”