12-hole miniature golf course at Golf Driving Range, Fleetwood Road, Blackpool

What was proposed

A 12-hole miniature golf course would be installed within the existing golf centre, with themed holes, hedgerows, raingardens, trees and raised planters.

“Proposal: Installation of 12 hole mini golf course within existing golf centre site. Recommendation: Grant planning permission.”

“The miniature golf course would be installed within the existing Tee Time Golf Centre site between the driving range bays and club house and the rear of dwellings on Kelvin Road and North Drive. The holes would be themed around local heritage sites and landmarks such as Blackpool Tower, Blackpool Zoo, and the Illuminations.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the course would be ancillary to the golf centre, with landscaping, managed hours, capacity controls and safeguards for neighbours.

“The wider site is in use as a 9 hole golf course and driving range with a club house and car park. The addition of a miniature golf course would be ancillary to this wider use. As there would be no change in land use it is not considered that the sequential test regarding the creation of main town centre uses outside of designated centres would be applicable.”

Officer report

Responses from consultees

Highways and drainage officers raised no objections, ecology accepted the biodiversity calculations, and amended landscaping plans were considered acceptable.

“24/02/2025: The site appears to have been mostly grassed until sometime after June 2022 when it was cleared. In accordance with the Environment Act the baseline for the purposes of biodiversity net gain can be taken from the state of the site on 30 January 2020, and this baseline can be ascertained from aerial images or data sets.”

“26/02/2025: The amended landscaping plans are acceptable.”

Officer report

What people said

Neighbours objected over golf balls, noise, behaviour, privacy, flooding, parking and safety, while supporters cited family benefits, reduced risk and existing parking.

“Concerns that golf balls will come over the fence into adjacent residential gardens, as this has already been the case in the past. Additional trees proposed around the border do not eliminate this possibility. • The supporting information acknowledges close proximity to boundaries and some risk of balls being chipped into gardens. If there is any risk of this happening then children will not be able to play safely in the residential gardens.”

“It will be a great addition to the area and Blackpool as a whole. • Putting is safe and fun for families and people of all ages and encourages children to take up golf. • It fits well with the existing facility and would continue the investment already made. • It would be a beneficial resource for school excursions. • The existing facility is run well by the staff who are always professional and in control and do their best to respect neighbours and patrons.”

Officer report

Who spoke

A local residents’ representative spoke against the application, while the applicant, architect and a councillor spoke in favour.

What members debated

Members considered supervision, noise controls, lighting, boundaries, opening hours, unaccompanied teenagers and the limits on reasonable planning conditions.

“The Committee discussed the application and in response to questions to both the Applicant and [name withheld] advised that management of the existing facilities did not allow use by groups of unaccompanied teenagers and that the design of the miniature golf course and buffer zone was designed to mitigate any impact on neighbouring houses.”

“The Committee discussed the application further and noted that any revision to opening hours would impact on the viability of the facility. [name withheld] advised the Committee that any planning conditions imposed must meet the six tests of planning conditions as set out in Paragraph 57 of the National Planning Policy Framework and suggestions from objectors such as a condition requiring no noise at all from the site would not therefore be reasonable.”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee supported the application and delegated approval to agree final conditions covering management, age restrictions, lighting, hedgerows and boundaries.

“The Committee noted the concerns of local residents and objectors and that although there would be some noise from the site, the Management Plan sought to mitigate issues around customer noise, behaviour and noise from golfing equipment. The application was for a facility that would add sustainable green infrastructure to the north of Blackpool and provide further sporting facilities for residents in the area.”

“Resolved: To resolve to support the application and delegate approval to the Head of Development Management in agreement with the Chair of the Planning Committee in relation to the final wording of conditions in respect of: - The Management Plan and age restrictions in terms of unaccompanied children when using the miniature golf facility. - External lighting and that no external lighting would be permitted without further prior agreement or planning permission as necessary.”

Minutes