Hurlston Hall sets sights on prestigious competitors with club development plans

Dec 6 2012 by Joe Thomas, Ormskirk Advertiser

MAJOR development plans could turn Hurlston Hall into one of the most desirable golf and party venues in the north west.

Ambitious plans to extend the country club and refurbish existing facilities have been submitted to West Lancs Borough Council.

The club’s owners feel Hurlston Hall will be able to compete with some of the most prestigious clubs in the area if the application is approved.

Since buying it in 2007 the club’s owners have made no secret of their desire to develop the 135 acre site.

Numerous planning applications have been submitted to the council and £500,000 has been spent improving the 18-hole championship course.

The club on Hurlston Lane, Scarisbrick, has also gone out of its way to accommodate other sports, even adding a crown green bowling green to the complex.

Now the owners are keen to improve the club further. Their desired developments would see a two-storey extension built and the refurbishment of function rooms and restaurant facilities.

Separate entrances for golfers and function guests would be created, as well as a reserved parking area for function guests. It is believed this would enable non-golfers to have a more exclusive experience. Under the plans function guests would also have access to a refurbished and extended bar overlooking the golf course. The function room footprint would be extended by 204sq metres.

Sports users would also benefit from the plans as a new “snug area” for bowlers, anglers and model boat enthusiasts would be built.

In the application planning agent Richard Every Architect Ltd states these changes would “satisfy the short term goals of the business” as “the golfers will have improved facilities which they would expect a championship golf course to offer.

“The refurbished function rooms will attract new business. The bowlers, boaters and users of the caravan park will have somewhere to eat and meet.”

Those developments mark phase one of the plans, which would create 21 jobs part time and full time jobs.

Phase two of the plans would extend the north-west wing to provide ground and first floor accommodation comprising:

A new spike bar

A new wet area and trolley storage/charging area

The refurbishment of existing spike bar as extension to ground floor restaurant

A first floor extension to one of the function rooms

Developers hope phase two’s completion would create an additional eight jobs.

Similar plans were passed in 2010, so the applicants are hopeful there will be no obstacles to the new plans.

The new proposals stem from the owners’ desire to improve facilities for outdoor users such as the club’s anglers, bowlers and golfers while helping Hurlston Hall challenge some of the most upmarket venues in the area.

The agents state: “The aspiration of the owners is to provide a quality venue that can compete effectively with venues such as Formby Hall and the West Tower.”

A decision is expected on the plans by January 24.

If given the go-ahead, phase one would be implemented immediately and phase two would have a target completion date within the next five years.