Council approves plans for Total Golf facilities at Kirkby Valley

Knowsley Council’s Planning Committee has approved plans for the future of the Kirkby Valley Golf Course that will create the region’s first Total Golf destination.

Plans for the former municipal golf course were originally submitted to the council in 2021, but were subsequently revised in response to consultation responses and a desire to minimise the impact of the £20m investment on the site’s greenbelt status.

Green Circle’s planning consultant, Richard Gee, of Roman Summer, said: “It’s been a long process, but we are grateful to Knowsley Council planning officers who have worked with us to refine plans and ensure the best possible scheme that will deliver one of the UK’s premier public pay and play golf destinations.”

The master plan, designed by international course architects, International Design Group (IDG)  and Liverpool-based Brock Carmichael Architects, provides an offer to golfers of all ages and abilities with:

• An improved 18-hole Championship course with reshaped greens, tees and new irrigation and drainage system to guarantee all-year-round playability.
• A new nine-hole par 3 Academy course, ideal for younger golfers, beginners and those wanting a less physically and technically challenging game of golf.
• An 18-hole Adventure Golf Course to provide a fun, family-friendly and accessible version of the game alongside the more traditional formats.
• A new golf club house, a state-of-the-art two-tier driving range, including golf simulation and teaching spaces to teach and develop key golf skills.

Green Circle property director, Michael Hanlon, said: “Golf is at the core of our business and our Total Golf model is about breaking down barriers to participation and making the game as attractive, accessible and affordable to as many people as possible.

“Kirkby Valley is a unique asset, as it enables us to offer every format of the game in one location. This will be a ground breaking development and completely unique in this region.”

Green Circle will be expanding its golf development and outreach programme as the new facilities offer expanded opportunities for participation, coaching and ‘get-into-golf’ initiatives with local schools and even social prescribing golf sessions to promote better health and wellbeing.

Kirkby Valley site masterplan

The plans also include a new clubhouse, with golf shop, bar and restaurant, and first floor function space, with a sympathetic, visually sensitive design by Brock Carmichael. John Cassell, of Brock Carmichael Architects, said: “The new clubhouse and driving range buildings will provide first class social and leisure facilities. and will provide a much needed social amenity for the Kirkby community as well.

“It was important that the design and materials of the buildings fitted in with the wider masterplan, and complimented the natural landscape and visual character of the course.”

Andrew Craven, of IDG Golf Architects, said: “We set out to deliver a fantastic golf-for-all offer whilst safeguarding Kirkby Valley’s landscape and environmental value. We’re proud to be delivering a significant net gain in the site’s ecology and biodiversity, through new planting and habitat creation.

“We listened to concerns raised by Knowsley Council and other consultees and believe that we have delivered the best possible design solution for what will become an exceptional and successful golf destination.”

In addition to the improved leisure and hospitality offer, Green Circle is stressing the important social and economic benefits of its investment which will create 75 full time permanent jobs in greenkeeping, grounds maintenance, hospitality, retail, golf tuition, admin and marketing.

Green Circle’s operations director, Yvonne Jackson, said: “We’re committed to ensuring that as many jobs as possible are for local people and we will be working with Knowsley Council and partners to target opportunities for those who are long term unemployed or disadvantaged in the labour market.

“We are also a Merseyside-based company and are, therefore, committed to using local contractors and suppliers during the construction phase to maximise the benefits to the local economy.”

Green Circle envisages work starting in spring 2025, with all the new facilities earmarked to open by April 2028.