The Royal Winchester Golf Club has identified several areas of land within its grounds that could be developed in the future, which has caused mixed reactions among members of the historic Hampshire club.
Land prioritized in the council’s planning process
The club has submitted three small parcels of land to Winchester City Council as part of its latest move Call Sites consultation, a process used to inform future planning decisions under the council’s emerging Local Plan.
Two sites are understood to be close to the proposed Chilbolton Avenue site. The Call for Sites does not represent a planning application, but rather allows landowners to flag sites that may be suitable for future use as housing or public spaces.
The club does not emphasize the commitment to sell or promote
In an email received by The Hampshire ChronicleRoyal Winchester Golf Club has said it is under no obligation to sell or develop any land.
“The Club has identified three small parcels of land in our area that may have potential for long-term development,” the email said.
“By submitting these sites through the Call for Sites programme, we are not committing to selling or developing any of the land, but we are ensuring that the Group’s interests are represented in Council’s future planning considerations.”
The group added that the transfer is aimed at “protecting and enhancing the long-term value of the group’s land” and keeping open the option of future land sales that could help fund development and investment.
General manager: discussions are early and exploratory
Royal Winchester’s general manager, Nicholas McArthur, said the club was acting responsibly to secure its long-term future.
“Royal Winchester Golf Club is a private members’ club, and like most clubs, we are always considering a range of options to help ensure long-term sustainability,” he said.
“This includes, at the highest level, assessing the possibilities and understanding the planning situation, but no decisions have been made, and no commitments are in place.”
Mr McArthur stressed that any sale or development of the land would require full consultation with members and a formal vote, adding: “We are not at that stage at the moment.”
He also said that there is nothing concrete that he can comment on at the moment and he said that it would be too early to talk about the results since things are still being fixed.
Council Leader: many sites have been rejected
Winchester City Council leader and St Paul ward councillor, Martin Tod, said the proposal should not be confused with a planning application.
“This is not like the Lanham Lane situation,” he said. “That was a planning application. These proposals are a response to the Council’s Zoning Application, which is the earliest step in the planning process.”
Cllr Tod explained that the council often receives far more sites than it needs, many of which are rejected due to encroachment, environmental or infrastructure issues.
“There is still a long way between this kind of submission and any kind of planning application,” he added.
Members’ concerns about history and biodiversity
Despite these assurances, some members expressed concern about the direction the group might take.
One long-time attendee, who asked not to be named, said they were “shocked and saddened” by the idea that parts of the courses could be sold.
“I joined because of its long history,” said the member. “A tone of recent emails suggests this could be the start.”
The member also expressed concern for wildlife and biodiversity, noting that aggressive areas were left uncut to support habitats for the animals that live on the site.
One of the oldest clubs in Hampshire
Founded in 1888, the Royal Winchester Golf Club moved to its current site at Teg Down in 1901 and has held the title since 1913.
While there are currently no planned development proposals, the identification of land for future use highlights the financial and strategic pressures facing traditional members’ clubs as they look to ensure long-term sustainability.
