The future of a north-east golf club has been left hanging in the balance after cash-generating plans to build new homes next to the course were refused.
Newmachar Golf Club applied to Aberdeenshire Council seeking planning permission in principle to build three houses on unused ground.
The organisation had hoped the sale of the properties would help raise much-needed money to allow them to improve their golf offering – and bring back workers made redundant during tough financial times.
But the application was refused by the Garioch Area Committee on Tuesday, April 19.
Committee hears of redundancies at Newmachar Golf Club
Newmachar Golf Club’s honourable vice-president John McIntosh addressed councillors to explain the importance of the plan.
He said: “It’s not just to keep the club afloat, it’s for the club to realise their ambitions to help provide the best facilites possible.
“It would bring benefits to the whole community, not just for our own individual members.
“It would also to allow us to market properly, to further engage in the tourism industry and to re-employ some of our staff.
“For financial reasons we had to make six greenkeepers redundant.”
Plans would bring back workers
Mr McIntosh added: “We would like to reinstate jobs, fund marketing, increase visitors, increase economic delivery in the local economy.
“This would allow us to expand our facilites and provide the best facilities available not only in the north-east of Scotland but in the whole country.”
Locals back Newmachar Golf Club ambitions
People in the area rallied behind the proposal as 51 letters in support of the plan were sent to Aberdeenshire Council.
Backers said it would bring tourism and economic benefits to the area while using a piece of vacant land.
Newmachar Community Council had backed the plan too, citing the club’s “significant contribution to the local community”.
Meanwhile just one letter against the development was submitted raising concerns about the “unsuitable” site and visual impact.
Approving plans ‘would not serve public well’
But council planners recommended the plan be refused this week.
They were concerned that giving the development the go-ahead would set an undesirable precedent, with more homes possibly following.
Councillor Martin Ford said: “The question in front of me is, is there a policy grounds for justifying three houses in the countryside? I’m afraid the answer is very clearly no there is not.
“I appreciate people from Newmachar Golf Club would not agree with that and I note there was a lot of support for this – but that’s because there is a lot of support for the club.
“I don’t think we would be serving the public well or conducting land use planning properly if we changed our position and granted at this time.”
This was club’s second attempt at homes scheme
Councillor Glen Reid added: “There is no doubt about the value of the club to the local area and the great work that it does within the community.
“However if we were to approve this I think it really would set an undesirable departure precedent, so unfortunately I can’t support this.”
The committee unanimously agreed to refuse the application.
The club had previously taken a swing with a similar application in February 2021 but the plan landed in the rough as councillors agreed to refuse it.
