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Protesters oppose housing plan on golf course

Nadia LincolnLocal Democracy Reporter
News imageNadia Lincoln/LDRS Lots of people stand in front of a stone building. They are holding green and white placards with "Keep our space" and "Save Collingtree Golf Club" written on them. There is also a large white banner bookended by two golf club bags with "Housing development on Collingtree Park Golf Course. Save our green space," written on it. It is a sunny day.Nadia Lincoln/LDRS
Residents and golf club members demonstrated outside Northampton Guildhall to protest against the proposed housing

Protesters opposing plans to build on a golf course said "people need houses, but just not here".

Demonstrators gathered outside Northampton Guildhall on Saturday to oppose proposals to build up to 300 homes on part of Collingtree Park Golf Club.

The plans are part of West Northamptonshire Council's draft Local Plan, which could see up to 47,300 new homes built across the region by 2043.

Speaking at the demonstration, Iain Tait, a member of the golf course for over 25 years, said: "Everybody who moved to that area or plays golf... came here to be close to the natural beauty, the pathways, the wildlife and the accessibility of it. Once it's gone, it's gone forever."

News imageNadia Lincoln/LDRS A woman and a man hold up a white sign with "Save Collingtree Golf Club" written in green letters. Nadia Lincoln/LDRS
Hunsbury ward councillor Pinder Chauhan (left) said the golf club helped the local economy

Collingtree Park Golf Club was first opened in 1990 by designer and former British & US Open Champion, Johnny Miller.

Initial approval was given in 2016 for up to 1,000 homes, along with roads and other supporting infrastructure, as part of an expansion of the Collingtree area.

This also included changes and an extension to Collingtree Park Golf Club.

Conservative councillor for Hunsbury, Pinder Chauhan, said: "People need houses, but just not here. [Collingtree Park Golf Club is] part of our local identity, it's part of the history of Northamptonshire, and it brings into the local Northampton economy as well."

News imageNadia Lincoln/LDRS A woman in a white top wearing sunglasses stands in front of a stone building holding a green sign with "Keep our green space" written on it. Nadia Lincoln/LDRS
Collingtree Park resident Christianne Seaton said it would push her to move away from her home of over 30 years if the proposed housing went ahead

If the housing plans are kept in the council's development document, the number of holes available would be cut.

Collingtree Park resident Christianne Seaton added: "If they built on this particular green fairway, it would be devastating. It would push me to move.

"I'm all for new builds, but why take a sports facility away that the community needs?"

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporter, leader of the Reform-UK local authority, Mark Arnull, said: "It's the direction from central government to produce a local plan, and the numbers are provided by the government for the housing targets we must deliver on.

"If there are alternatives, that's our duty to explore and implement if we can."

The consultation on the plan closed in March, with a revised version expected in September before final submission by the end of 2026.

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