The proposal envisages the importation of material to reprofile the landscape and improve the utility of the golf course. There would be no built structures beyond the temporary construction site compound as such.
Significant areas of tree and other landscape planting are proposed to ensure that the works blend into the surrounding landscape.
There would be some short-term detrimental impact upon the local landscape character as the proposed landscape planting is maturing and the ground re-profiling works appear raw. This would be particularly noticeable in views from the public right of way to the north and in longer distance glimpsed views from the path network in the Bog to the east and southeast.
The application site comprises a 2.3-hectare (playing area) parkland golf course with substantial landscaped areas established in 1946 with 800 members with a separate practice area and club house. Planning permission has been given twice in the past twenty years for a substantial extension to the northwest to provide an additional three holes and also to improve the practice area.
These permissions have not however been implemented notwithstanding an approval of details required to be discharged by condition in 2017.
The site lies directly adjacent to the Askham Bog SSSI and designated Ancient Woodland and it partially drains into the Bog. The underlying drift geology is largely impermeable which creates significant issues of waterlogging at particular times of year leading to significant sections of the course particularly to the north and east becoming unplayable for long periods.
The proposal seeks to fully implement the development of the previously approved extension to the north and northwest. At the same time holes 9 to 18 would be remodelled. 352,000 metres of soils would be brought in to undertake wider landscape reprofiling with new areas of woodland planting to the north and west and new waterbodies to assist in maintaining stable surface water drainage as
well as providing wetland habitat.
The development would take place in four phases with the majority of work being undertaken in the second and third phases. The existing vehicular access to the site is via the A64 and dates from shortly after the establishment of the Club. It is sub-standard in terms of its width, gradient and proximity to the principal road when seen against Modern standards.
A temporary access for the construction operation is envisaged from the A1237 Outer Ring Road to the northwest with traffic entering and leaving from the southbound carriageway which has the clearest visibility.
The application site is presently accessed via the A64 by means of an access which dates from the establishment of the Club in the late 1940s and which falls significantly below modern standards in terms of its width configuration and gradient and is unsuitable for the reception of HGVs. A temporary construction site access is therefore envisaged taking traffic from the A1237 to the northwest for each phase of the development.
The proposal seeks to remedy existing difficulties in terms of provision of facilities and the quality of surface water drainage at the existing golf course by building upon an earlier consent from 2014 which has not been fully implemented.
This involves the full implementation of the previously approved extension and the importation of approximately 350,000 cubic metres of inert soils which together with new landscape planting would re-profile the existing playing surface.
The report to next weeks planning comittee concludes:
“The proposed development would not be inappropriate in Green Belt terms. If conditioned in detail
as part of any planning permission the proposed construction site access from the A1237 is felt to be appropriate. The submitted details within the EIA and supplementary information demonstrate that the biodiversity value and hydrology of the adjacent SSSI and Ancient Woodland can be safeguarded. Notwithstanding short-term harm it is felt that the impact of the proposal upon the landscape and
visual character of the wider area once the new tree planting is mature would be acceptable. It is felt that the requirements of paragraphs 180a) and b) of the NPPF in respect of development and areas of biodiversity value would be complied with”.
York News Focus 