HS2-destroyed venue to be given new golf course

By Alistair April 23, 2016 23:49 Updated

A golf club that will be effectively annihilated by the £43 billion high-speed HS2 route is to be given a new state-of-the-art course.

Ingestre Park Golf Club in Staffordshire will lose seven of its 18 holes, with the line passing within 100 metres of its clubhouse. The 42-year-old venue will lose 13 of its 128 acres but with the railway dissecting its middle, it will effectively ruin the course.

Flickr / Department for Transport

While a spokesman for HS2 has said discussions with the club over compensation was still ongoing, the club, meanwhile, hopes to be given the option of either buying adjoining land to add to what is left of the course, or purchase a new piece of land and start from scratch.

Ingestre member Gareth Morgan believes the compensation will cost HS2 about £3.5 million.

“With a train going by at over 200 miles an hour, it will destroy the rural pleasures of playing golf at Ingestre. HS2 is essentially going to destroy the golf club,” he said.

“The compensation we receive is governed by the Compulsory Purchase Act, which leaves the affected person in the same position after as they were before.

“HS2 will assist the club in finding a different plot of land. They will pay the costs of obtaining planning, of designing, and building a brand new club and clubhouse.”

He added that he does not expect the club to move into its new home before 2023.

“Ingestre Golf Club will come out of HS2 better and stronger and able to face the future. The members have absolutely nothing to fear whatsoever,” he said.

HS2 spokesperson Alastair Cowan said: “The route is part of phase 2a, which runs from Birmingham up to Crewe. It is planned to open in 2027, one year after the main London to Birmingham section of the route. We are still in discussion with the golf club about a suitable compensation package.

“No deal yet.”