FORMBY Over 190 Years in the Local Community
£2145 5 September 2018
Vol 25 l Issue 36
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ECO-WOODLAND LODGES PLAN FOR GOLF RESORT
Hundreds of trees to make way for proposed development - but they will be replaced elsewhere on site, promise bosses at Formby Hall Report by Danielle Thompson
PLANS to build 18 woodland lodges within the grounds of Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa could be given the green light as part of a three-part transformation of the site. An outline planning application for the club on Southport Old Road has been submitted to Sefton Council – and the design and access statement submitted with it reveals designs that will transform the facility. The first part of the plan shows a linked application under the heading ‘Resort Expansion’ and involves a full planning request for the expansion and improvement of the hotel and leisure facilities. The second linked application is for the demolition of storage buildings known as ‘the Piggeries’ followed by the erection of 10 residential properties. The capital generated from this proposal would be ‘ring fenced’ and reinvested to deliver the proposed expansion of the resort site. The third and final part of the plan is for the erection of ‘eco’ woodland lodges, which would require the removal of up to 30 trees per lodge to accommodate the development – up to 540 trees, plus nine from the entranceway. A planting strategy outlines replacing the trees that were cleared elsewhere on the site – and the replacements would include native oak, pine, birch, alder, willow, lime, rowan, hazel and holly to “enhance the ecological diversity of the area.” The planning applications stated that the proposed
The area known as The Piggeries
lodge locations have been selected at existing clearings in the woodland or in areas of dense rhododendron or scrub to be removed and to avoid the loss of the mature oak and pine trees. It states: “Many of the trees to be removed are small, dead or are in a poor condition as the woodland has been poorly managed. Individually their landscape and amenity value is low.”
It also states that the development offers the chance to “integrate woodland management proposals including extensive planting of native species to enhance the ecological diversity and improve the age structure of the wood.” They state that this would enhance the habitat for local wildlife - including the red squirrel. The consultation on the outline planning application is due to end on September 21.
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