Three planning permissions have been granted for luxury holiday lodges within The Club Company’s golf courses in Essex and Devon.

Strategic real estate advisor Avison Young’s Leisure Planning team has secured permission for a total of 41 holiday lodges to be sited across three golf courses owned and operated by The Club Company in Essex and Devon; The Essex Golf and Country Club, Benton Hall and Country Club, and Woodbury Park Hotel & Country Club.

Informed by detailed analysis of planning policy, golf participation trends and local market requirements, the approved plans will support The Club Company’s expansion of its accommodation offer, while enhancing the wellbeing facilities within its first-class country clubs.

Avison Young’s specialist planning team acted as planning consultants and project managers, securing permission for nine holiday lodges within The Essex Golf and Country Club.

Located in close proximity to the Clubhouse within a grassland area, the siting of the lodges will provide luxury accommodation to complement the existing facilities at The Essex. These include a hotel, an 18-hole championship golf course, a 9-hole golf course, state of the art gym, indoor pool, spa, beauty treatment rooms and nine tennis courts.

A further 18 holiday lodges, alongside two tennis courts and a new spa garden with associated landscaping, were approved for The Club Company’s Benton Hall and Country Club in Essex.

The plans will help the Club meet new demand for accommodation, as well as deliver additional spa and sports facilities to complement the existing 18-hole and 9-hole courses, a pro shop, steam, sauna & spa, crèche, gym and swimming pool.

Situated on a disused driving range to the south of the club house, the plans were carefully optimised to create an attractive spacious layout with plenty of open space. The approved spa garden is of high architectural quality, in keeping with the existing clubhouse and while enhancing the landscape features of the surrounding area.

The team’s most recent success relates to Woodbury Park Hotel & Country Club. An application was prepared and submitted to East Devon District Council for 14 holiday lodges, to add to the existing facilities that include a 4* hotel, spa, gym, swimming pool, beauty salon, function rooms and extensive golf facilities, including an 18-hole and a 9-hole golf course.

The planned layout proposes to add in further planting, with additional trees and hedging to assimilate the proposal with the surrounding landscape. The lodges will be well hidden from views from the golf course, while being clad in timber or reconstituted wood to blend into the surrounding area.

The team overcame objections regarding the impact on an adjacent lane and the landscape concerns arising from the site’s location in close proximity to East Devon AONB. The Council recognised that the proposal represents diversification to the existing accommodation offer at Woodbury Park that will encourage further visitors to support the site and explore the surrounding area, bringing wider benefits to the local economy.

Martin Taylor, Principal, Leisure Planning & Development at Avison Young said:
“Like many golf and country clubs, the Club Company has been exploring ways of attracting more people to its sites. I am pleased that our specialist leisure planning team has been able to assist the Club Company with our experience of obtaining planning permission for holiday lodges and facilities buildings in difficult locations.”

Richard Calvert, CEO of The Club Company, said:
“Our objective is to enhance the premium offering at our country clubs to existing and new customers alike. The development of luxury lodges for ownership or holiday stays will contribute to the local economy, provide additional employment and help attract new visitors to the area.”

Landscape Architects for The Essex and Benton Hall: Hankinson Duckett Associates
Design Consultants for the spa garden at Benton Hall: SPARCSTUDIO
Landscape Architects for Woodbury: Pegasus Group

Avison Young’s Environmental team conducted the Flood Risks Assessments and Drainage Strategies for all projects.