Plans for an 18-hole adventure golf course in the Lake District have been given the go ahead, despite concerns it would affect the safe operation of a nearby school.
Members of the development control committee for the Lake District National Park Authority approved proposals from Choices Health Club to create the course at Troutbeck Bridge Swimming Pool in Windermere.
It will consist of an 18-hole course connected by new pathways, plus bridges, greens, ponds, signs and lighting.
Plans also involve relandscaping the existing car park and renovating the front of the health club building.
Objections were raised by The Lakes School and Westmorland and Furness Council, as the local education authority, about the potential impact of the proposals on the safe operation of the school.
An objection submitted on behalf of the council and the Lakes School said: “Our clients object to the proposals on the basis that they involve the creation of a new tourism attraction in an inappropriate location which would introduce levels of activity which would lead to unacceptable impacts on the safe operation of the school, and the safeguarding and amenity of pupils.”
But a report by national park officers said the plans would not introduce unacceptable level of overlooking and add quieter periods would likely be mid-week in term time.
Committee member Peter Walter said: “I think there are schools much bigger than this one run in city centre locations that don’t have a concern around this and I think this is a school at a dead-end in Troutbeck.
“I don’t think there are concerns about safeguarding. I think those concerns have been overstated.”
However, committee member Vicky Hughes raised concerns that the addition of the adventure golf course would draw too much activity to the area.
Ms Hughes said: “It’s quite hectic round there with the school runs and the students, and I just worry having an attraction like that will be too intense.”
Previously plans for a golf attraction were refused in July 2023 by the authority after planners ruled the proposals would lead to the deterioration of irreplaceable habitats, among other reasons.
However, the new site is south east of the health club and no longer next to the ancient woodland north of the club.
An ecological appraisal accompanying this application concluded that, given the nature and scale of the proposed development, it was considered that there was no potential for a foreseeable impact on the ancient woodland.
The planning statement said: “The proposal would be sited to the south east of the existing health club, and it is proposed to offer this leisure facility to diversify the existing leisure offering to existing users as well as to provide a diversified attraction to tourists, who already visit the health club.”
According to planning documents the adventure golf course would feature nine wheelchair accessible holes.
It is proposed the golf course will be open from 9.15 am until one hour after sunset from October to March. From April to September the golf course will close at 9pm or one hour after sunset, whichever is earliest.
Officers concluded: “The proposals receive support from development plan policy as a community facility, a tourist attraction and existing business.
“The site specific impacts in terms of impacts on neighbours, traffic and parking, which would occur in the context of an established health club and swimming pool and the wider context of its car park and extensive nearby school buildings, are considered to be acceptable.”
