Restoration of a historic walled garden, 40 accommodation lodges, a multipurpose community hub, padel courts, wild swimming, a café, shop and offices all feature in the proposal
Ivan Morris Poxton Local Democracy Reporter
05:00, 06 Feb 2026
A visual for the restored walled garden and stable buildings at Priory Park Leisure and Wellness facility, planned at the former Lincolnshire Golf Club(Image: SPX Architects / Rockscape Habitats Ltd)
A former 18-hole golf course nestled in rural North Lincolnshire could be turned into a leisure and wellness retreat that also offers learning opportunities for schools and community groups. The former home of The Lincolnshire Golf Club, off Crowle Road, about two miles south of Crowle, could see quite the makeover.
Planning permission has been sought from North Lincolnshire Council for the change of use of part of the former golf course into a mixed-use development. This would include 40 short-term accommodation units, refurbishment of the clubhouse to use as a café, shop and offices, a community hub including a health and wellness facility, and outdoor leisure facilities including four padel courts and wild swimming, with a sauna installed.
That is not to mention also plans to restore a historic walled garden. Rockscape Habitats Ltd is the applicant for what would become known as Priory Park.
A planning document states Priory Park “aims to become a valuable community asset”. This includes “a self-sustaining not-for-profit charitable organisation which will provide fully inclusive and accessible education, skills and leisure-based activities.
“The centre aims to improve the health and wellbeing of adults and children by enhancing their engagement with the natural environment,” the document states. Ways in which Priory Park would achieve this are further outlined:
In the walled garden, volunteers would be able to improve physical and mental health with horticultural activities.Priory Park would work with partners and engage with local schools and community groups to provide a wide range of learning opportunities, with topics ranging from willow weaving to food production, to outdoor cooking.Breathing and meditation activities such as Yoga and Pilates would take place in both indoor and outdoor settings within the hub and park.
The 40 short-term accommodation units would be made up of 29 two-bed residential lodges and 11 shepherd huts for short leisure and wellness breaks. For the wild swimming, use of two small lakes and a changing room with also a sauna is planned.
An impression of planned accommodation lodges at the proposed Priory Park leisure and wellness facility(Image: SPX Architects / Rockscape Habitats Ltd)
There would also be a residential bunk barn for school and group activities. The proposed leisure and wellness facility is close to Hirst Priory, an early-mid 18th-century country house. Because of its listed status, listed consent has also been sought.
The former stables and walled garden are within the original surroundings of the Priory, and are to get a restoration makeover. The walled garden would provide a mixture of cut flowers, fruits and vegetables, have a water feature and even a mini-amphitheatre.
The former Hirst Priory Stables in which the golf clubhouse was housed would be restored. This would contain a café, a small shop, and office space for volunteers. The stables café would overlook the walled garden.
A pumpkin patch event was held in October to get verbal feedback from residents about the plans. The applicant has also been in contact with Crowle & Ealand Town Council, local councillors, and Lee Pitcher MP (Labour – Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme) before submitting the application.
Mr Pitcher wrote a letter thanking Rockscape for a tour of the site and enthusing particularly about the scheme’s community elements. “The team’s passion to find a way to use this landscape to build resilience and community was fantastic. It was a wonderful concept which has community at its heart.”
Another impression of some of the proposed accommodation lodges at the proposed Priory Park(Image: SPX Architects / Rockscape Habitats Ltd)
Rockwell Group is based at a farm near Crowle and has a foundation arm to focus efforts to put back into the local area. This includes a commitment to work with local and regional charities that share its vision of stronger, healthier communities.
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