CONTROVERSIAL plans to build houses on the site of a former Chester golf club have been given the go-ahead on appeal.

Last July a planning application, submitted to Cheshire West and Chester Council for six homes at the old Mollington Golf Club, was unanimously rejected by the council's planning committee.

But one year later, a Government planning inspectorate has allowed the developer's appeal and granted planning permission for the development.

Harworth Group proposed the development which would provide two four-bedroom and four five-bedroom detached properties on the site off Townfield Lane.

The plans include:

Demolition of the existing clubhouse and greenkeepers house.

  • Creation of a new footway/cycleway which will link the site to the existing network
  • Restoration of the former clubhouse site as a ‘species rich’ wildflower grassland and amenity space with seating.
  • Construction of a new car park adjoining the residential development to serve residents and members of the community who are not within walking distance of the site so they can access the walking/cycle routes within the wider area.
  • Landform regrading and pond reprofiling to reveal the ponds on site and enhance the great crested newt habitats.

Speaking at the committee meeting last July, Cheshire West and Chester Cllr Myles Hogg said: “The site itself has a very chequered history.

A homes plan for the former Mollington Golf Club site has been allowed on appeal.

A homes plan for the former Mollington Golf Club site has been allowed on appeal.

“For years it was a dumping ground of thousands upon thousands of tonnes of waste material to help contour the new golf course.

“A golf course was duly built but sadly failed.

“We now have this application for six new large homes. This building will be firmly in the green belt.

“The application site is therefore in the countryside for development purposes.

“Madam chairman, are there any special circumstances which overrides refusal? I don’t believe so.”

The planning inspectorate, Mark Ollerenshaw, in his appeal decision published on Tuesday, July 12, stated: "The proposal would be inappropriate development in the Green Belt and would result in moderate harm to its openness. These harms carry substantial weight.

"The development would conflict with the requirements of the development plan in relation to sustainable locations for development which also weighs against the proposal."

Mr Ollerenshaw added: "However, I find that the other considerations in this case, specifically the enhanced public access to the site and ecological enhancements, would result in significant benefits which would clearly outweigh the harm that I have identified.

"Looking at the case as a whole, I consider that very special circumstances exist which justify the development."

Providing further details, the inspectorate said: "The proposal would formalise public access with the provision of pedestrian and cycle links, including from Townfield Lane (using the existing driveway), and a small car park would be created for visitors to the wider site.

"The new cycle way would be constructed providing enhanced connections between the Countess Country Park, the Countess of Chester Hospital and Mollington.

"Although some areas of grassland and scrub would be lost as a result of the proposals, the appeal scheme proposes significant new woodland planting...a total of 7.5ha of tree planting is proposed, consisting of 4.8ha of woodland planting and 2.7ha of scrub planting.

"The Ecology Report indicates that this planting could offer in the region of 20,000 individual trees/scrub specimens on the site and within the wider golf course."

Mr Ollerenshaw added: "The evidence before me indicates that the site has experienced high levels of anti-social behaviour, including break-ins to the existing club house. The formalisation of access to the site would increase natural surveillance and the demolition of the existing vacant buildings would reduce incidences of anti-social behaviour.

"However, the implementation of robust security measures on the existing site could also reduce levels of anti-social behaviour. I give this matter limited weight in favour of the appeal scheme."

Planning permission was granted, subject to a number of conditions relating to development and the environment.

Reacting to the planning inspectorate's report, Cheshire West and Chester councillor Simon Eardley, ward member for Saughall and Mollington, said on social media: "What is the point of a local planning system and council planning committee when decisions like this occur?

"I’m very disappointed that the clearly expressed views of residents around the green belt and other aspects of local planning policy have been ignored here in Mollington."

A separate planning application to convert the former Mollington Golf Clubhouse into a residential property with an outdoor swimming pool and tennis court had been given the go-ahead by the council in October 2021. That change of use application was a resubmission of a previous proposal, granted planning permission in 2017, but had since lapsed.