£7m holiday retreat to be built on disused golf course

A 64 acre golf course in Goosnargh which has remained closed since the Covid-19 pandemic is to be transformed into a holiday retreat after plans were approved by Preston City Council.

The £7m redevelopment will see the build of 130 upmarket lodges, 26 tourer/caravan pitches and 14 office pods, together with a range of leisure facilities for guests, possibly including an indoor heated pool, tennis courts, games room, bar, restaurant and spa.

Figures produced for the developer, GHV, by consultants Hatch show that local businesses can expect a £1.9m annual boost in visitor spend in the immediate area, with a further £2.3m coming in the form of wages paid to locally-recruited staff, more than 100 of whom are expected to work on the site when fully operational.

A further 45 jobs will be created among the local building supply chain during construction.

Peter Allen of GHV said: “This is great news for our local community and I welcome the committee’s approval of our proposals after such careful consideration. Our plans enjoyed broad support amongst the community and we worked hard to accommodate the needs and concerns of nearby residents, which was recognised by the committee."

The consultants on the project include FWP (architects), Miller Goodall (noise and air quality), PWA Planning, Eddisons (traffic engineers) and Allen Archaeology (heritage and archaeology).

Neil Ainsworth, partner at Preston-headquartered FWP, said: “We’re delighted that our carefully thought out plans for Goosnargh Holiday Village have been approved by Preston City Council planners.

“We have worked hard to create a very special place, a rural retreat to help people reconnect with the great outdoors.

“The lodges are modern and stylish and in keeping with the location and the attractions planned, including the spa, will also make staying in the village a memorable experience.

“We’ve placed nature and the environment at the heart of the plans, with woodland and water features creating stunning views and a real sense of tranquillity.

“Goosnargh Holiday Village will be a fantastic place for people looking to get away from it all.

“Sitting on the edge of the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB) it will also be an ideal base for visitors looking to explore Lancashire and all it has to offer, from the coast to the fells.

“The village promises to deliver a welcome boost to local businesses and the rural economy; increasing the visitor spend, as well as creating jobs.”