Supermarket, sports facilities and housing plans proposed for Northumberland golf club site under £12million plans

The £12million scheme at Belford Golf Club potentially includes a supermarket and country food store, with associated parking.

Between 40 and 50 new homes are also proposed to the south east and north of the course and clubhouse.

A full-sized football pitch, two all-weather tennis courts, a bowling green, pitch and putt and children’s play area are also envisaged.

A new leisure site for chalets and fixed holiday accommodation is planned on an eight-acre site to the east.

The scheme also includes provision for six self contained offices with a communal conference room to be a new economic hub for small businesses.

The existing clubhouse would be doubled in size to accommodate changing rooms, sauna, steam room, gym and large function room for fitness classes.

The nine-hole golf course would be retained, while the driving range would be improved and repositioned further east.

A micro-brewery could also be developed close to the Northumbrian Water site.

Golf club owners David and Michael Ratliff say the completed development could create around 50 jobs.

They said: “We believe such a scheme is a huge benefit to Belford which has adversely suffered in the last 20 years from having 17 shops to currently three – and no similar facilities to those planned.

"Given very few golf clubs are profitable, the site plans will add to facilities used and will go a large way to sustain the viability long term of a good course.

"Offers we have received are from large developers who would ‘sit’ on the course, lease it for grazing until planning on a very large scale for housing is given. Our plans preserve the course from such.

"To fund such a large development, limited new housing is planned on land to the south east and north of the course and club house.

"This, of course, is in tune with the government’s announced determination to increase new housing and speed up the planning process.

“Preferred developers who have shown active interest are local reputable companies.

“A failure to secure full planning will be a loss to the village and residents, and risks the loss of the golf club.”

They revealed that two leading national supermarket companies are ‘very keen’ to pursue the development on receipt of planning.

Extensive research has been carried out over several months with pre-application advice received from planners at Northumberland County Council ahead of the expected submission of a formal application next month.

A public consultation event was held at the golf club on Friday to outline the plans to local residents.

They would also welcome any additional possibilities/ benefits to the village to add to the scheme.

The information boards will be left on display in the clubhouse (open Tue-Sun, 2pm-6pm) until September 2. Comments can be sent to [email protected]

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