Liverpool City Council’s golf operating partner, Green Circle, says the plan will include a boutique hotel and will be funded entirely by private investment. Tony McDonough reports
A £15m plan unveiled today will transform Liverpool’s Allerton Manor golf course into what is being described as the region’s premier public golf destination, creating 150 jobs.
Liverpool City Council’s golf operating partner, Green Circle, says the plan will be funded entirely by private investment, but it will safeguard the public status of the course and the principle of ‘affordable pay and play golf for all’.
The proposals, which will safeguard the Green Wedge status of the Allerton Manor site, are are set out in a full planning application to the city council:
- Reconfiguring Allerton Manor’s existing 18 and nine-hole courses to create a much- improved par-72 Championship course with a new driving range and putting area.
- A purpose-built golf pavilion / club house comprising a new golf shop, changing and locker rooms, teaching facilities including indoor practice putting area and golf simulators.
- A new family-friendly adventure golf course.
- The restoration and conversion of the Grade II-listed, but seriously dilapidated and at risk, Allerton Manor house to create a 31-bed boutique hotel, spa and function space.
Substantial investment
Green Circle’s Director of Golf Bryan Joelson-Mulhall said: “Following our appointment by Liverpool City Council as their golf operating partner, we have made a substantial investment to improve facilities at both Allerton Manor and Kirkby Valley.
“But we always had longer term ambitions to create facilities that would set new standards and match the best private clubs whilst maintaining a ‘golf for all’ ethos. Golf is a dynamic changing game with a growing and more diverse market demographic.
“There is a huge opportunity to improve and diversify the offer at Allerton Manor to create a vibrant, attractive and accessible golf destination for every age-group and ability level – from those who want the challenge of a genuine par 72 Championship course, to those wanting to learn the game, develop their skills or enjoy a fun round of adventure golf.”
Public consultation
The new golf pavilion/club house is a partly sunken structure to minimise visual impact, featuring a living green wall and sedum roof to blend into its green setting and create new habitats.
The course reconfiguration and the comprehensive site management and maintenance plan have also been conceived to ensure greater biodiversity and habitat creation
Green Circle’s operations manager, Craig Coley, added: “We want to create a family leisure destination that offers more than an enjoyable and affordable game of golf. The leisure sector is enormously competitive, so expanding our offer to provide excellent food and hospitality is an absolute must.
“We are proposing to complete the restoration of Allerton Manor’s derelict but listed buildings and create a golf and family leisure destination with a unique sense of place.”
Green Circle is inviting neighbours, stakeholders and the golf course estate’s many users to provide feedback on the plans as part of the planning consultation process and will be holding a public open day on Saturday, August 3, from 11am until 4pm.