Bolton Golf Club has unveiled detailed proposals for a new indoor golf simulator as part of plans to extend its existing professional shop, and a new Green Belt assessment suggests the development would have minimal impact on surrounding countryside.
The club has submitted updated documents, outlining a single-storey extension designed to house a modern golf simulator used for coaching, practice and player development.
According to architects SHWilkinson Architects Ltd, the extension would mirror the materials and appearance of the current pro shop, using brick, render and a flat roof to ensure the new structure blends seamlessly with the existing building.
A pre-application assessment by planning officers indicated the scheme would not cause “significant harm” to the Green Belt, and the club’s newly submitted Green Belt Justification Statement stressed the move would be justified within planning policy.
Under national planning rules, specifically Paragraph 154(b) of the National Planning Policy Framework, new buildings in the Green Belt can be considered appropriate if they provide facilities for outdoor sport and recreation and do not harm openness.
The club argues that a golf simulator is now a standard part of training within the sport, but that no existing spaces at the club could suitably accommodate one.
The proposed extension has been positioned to reduce additional building spread, remaining within a cluster of existing structures and largely shielded from public view.
A Landscape Visual Impact Assessment submitted alongside the application states that the extension would be built on an area of scrubland previously used for material and waste storage.
The report notes that the site is well screened by tree lines both across the golf course and along its boundaries.
From nearby roads and the main access route, planners say there are “limited to no vantage points” where the building would be visible.
To support biodiversity and meet Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) requirements, the proposal includes planting four new lime trees along the club’s driveway, complementing mature trees already lining the opposite side of the road.
If approved, the extension will provide members with access to improved training technology while maintaining the rural character of the golf course setting.
The plans are now available to view on Bolton Council‘s planning website.