A Bannatyne Group spokesperson has said the course’s long-term viability ‘is no longer achievable’
Ivan Morris Poxton Local Democracy Reporter
19:38, 24 Mar 2026
Humberston Country Club golf course aerial view – 249 homes are suggested to replace the course, bracketed in red.(Image: Google Maps)
A nine-hole golf course that has been previously mooted to be turned into a major housing development will permanently close. Plans for 249 homes on Humberston Country Club’s nine-hole golf course have been in the works, with Vistry East Yorkshire holding earlier this year a pre-application consultation for residents’ views.
Golf club members and residents have made clear their opposition to the scheme, and so did Humberston Village Council, after a meeting in January. The golf course has been closed since late last year due to flooding.
Bannatyne Group run Humberston Country Club, which the course is part of. The company leases the course and does not own it.
Bannatyne informed club members on Tuesday, March 24, that the course will permanently close on March 31 and have stated it is not economically viable to run it. A Bannatyne Group spokesperson said: “The golf course has not been financially sustainable for some time, and its long term viability is no longer achievable.
“As a result, the golf course will be closing permanently. We recognise that this will be disappointing for those who use the facility and understand the impact it may have on members.”
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“It took everybody by surprise,” said Paul Callanan, club seniors captain this year, of the announcement. He was at a Louth garden centre when he found out. “I looked at my WhatsApp messages and there were 67 of them.”
“Effectively, they’re closing it now,” he said, as the communication confirms the course will remain closed to play over the next week. Flooding impacted it over the Winter.
“It’s been closed since before the New Year for flooding, which makes you wonder whether it’s suitable for housing in the first place.” He said the surface water has “got to go somewhere else” should it be developed on.
“It’s not one sporting facility we’re going to lose, it’s two,” he argued, in reference to adjacent sports fields at St Christopher’s Road Play Park. Humberston Academy school fields also border part of the eastern side of the course.
Mr Callanan felt it might be quite a recent decision, given some course maintenance was taking place recently. “I’m sure this has come as a shock to the staff, never mind anybody else,” he said.
He criticised the short notice given. “To give a week’s notice is appalling.” He added club members have been told to give a month’s notice to cancel direct debits, and asserted he knew some had been cancelling anyway.
No planning application has yet been made to turn the golf course into a housing development. But a pre-application consultation is effectively a preliminary step before this.
The overall Vistry Group is a member of the FTSE250. Earlier this month, it was announced executive chair and chief executive Greg Fitzgerald will be retiring. The announcement was made as Vistry announced its pre-tax profit last year almost doubled, to £196.2m.
To find planning applications, traffic diversions, road layout changes, alcohol licence applications and more, visit the Public Notices Portal .
Vistry was one of seven companies investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over concerns they were sharing sales details with each other. In its results announcement, Vistry confirmed it contributed £12.8m last year to a total £100m payment from all seven companies towards affordable housing, as part of a series of commitments made to address the CMA’s concerns. According to Construction News, Vistry said this “did not constitute any admission of wrongdoing”.