Coastal golf park revamp proposed in North Devon

The site has fallen into disrepair, say planning agents

A golf park at Woolacombe could be getting a revamp.

New owners at Coombes Golf Park, formerly the Woolacombe and Ilfracombe Golf Range, want to improve it.

They have applied to North Devon Council permission, part-retrospectively, to refurbish an existing sports hall, extend the driving range, erect a 21-bay steel structure for a teaching room and secure storage, create an outdoor play area and relocate and enlarge a car park.

In planning documents, agent Neil Morris said the club had fallen into disrepair over the past few years.

An open timber range was damaged in gales last year and had to be removed for safety reasons.

The two-acre area includes pitch and putt, an agricultural shed used as a main building for the range and sports hall, a few small outbuildings and open-range grassland.

Applicant Matt Beckett wants to open a new clubhouse, with bar and cafe, toilets, kitchen, lounge areas, and a small office and staff facilities on a new mezzanine area of the main building. Adjoining this would be new 21-bay open-sided golf range building.

It would be part of the technical system known as TopTracer, a company which is a partner in the venture.

A new public terrace area is proposed along with a new landscaped car park for 59 cars plus a further 15 along the new and enhanced access road from the B3343 where its entrance gateway will be widened.

The plan is to provide a “more attractive” frontage where the public will access from the new car park. A small tree screen will disguise a safety fence to prevent balls going onto the road.

“We are designing the refurbished building to better reflect a rural barn-like building with a few contemporary touches as befits this new more technical approach to golfing and golf practise, where its over arching ethos is to be both stimulating and fun for its participants of all ages,” said the agents.

They continued: “There are no new uses or aspects that affect the existing neighbours and should not present any change from what they have known for the last 10 years or so,” they said.

The public has until Thursday 14 November to submit views on the scheme to North Devon Council before the planning committee makes a decision.