Harrow Council to judge Stanmore & Edgware Golf Centre plans

Harrow Council’s planning committee will assess a scheme at Stanmore and Edgware Golf Centre, in Brockley Hill.

Developer Sairam hopes to demolish the existing clubhouse – which closed in October 2019 and was damaged by a fire in June 2020 – and replace it with a two-storey banqueting facility.

However, council officers have raised several issues with the application and recommended the planning committee refuse permission.

In a council report, they questioned the lack of “adequate” parking and drop-off facilities and suggested this would have a detrimental impact on the surrounding area.

There were also concerns about the environmental and ecological impact of the proposed development, with the applicant failing to “demonstrate that the proposed development would not have a greater impact on the openness of the green belt than the existing development” at the site.

According to the report, more than 600 objections to the proposal were sent in, alongside representations from nine supporters of the scheme.

Those opposed to the plans criticised the size of the development and the impact it would have on the green belt – describing it as an “eyesore” – as well as the fact it would replace a sports facility that was beneficial to the wider public.

They also pointed out the lack of parking on offer and the knock-on effect this would have on neighbouring roads – one objector suggested this would “cause chaos” on Brockley Hill and would represent a safety risk with cars and coaches regularly stopping to drop-off and pick-up guests.

On this point, they also argued the “regular occurrence of 500-plus attendees” at events at the hall would cause “excessive traffic, noise pollution, and reduction in air quality”.

The meeting will be available to view on the council’s website at 6.30pm.