Plans to build 19 new homes on a retired golfer's former clubhouse and hotel near St Neots have been given the go ahead by Huntingdonshire District Council.

An application was put to the district council by David Abbotsley Limited to change the use of a golf clubhouse and hotel to form 14 new homes.

The greenkeepers store, a shop and an office will also be demolished to make way for five further homes at the site. 

Vivien Saunders OBE, a retired golfer who won the Women's British Open in 1977, owns the Abbotsley Golf Club and Hotel. She is also the Director of David Abbotsley Limited.

The golf course closed in 2017 after what Ms Saunders claims to be an act of "vandalism" on the greens. Since then, the site has fell into disuse. 

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David Abbotsley Limited submitted a planning application in 2021 to convert the site into 22 new homes, but it was refused by the Development Management Committee.

However, the latest planning application for the redevelopment was recommended for approval by planning officers at Huntingdonshire District Council.

At a meeting on Monday, July 15, planning officer Lewis Tomlinson said that the buildings on Ms Saunders' land are "redundant and ready to be converted".

He also said that Abbotsley Parish Council objected to the plans on the grounds that none of the homes will be affordable housing and that access to the site is problematic. 

John Geering, a resident in one of the lodges near the proposed development, also spoke in objection to the plans. He described the scheme as "flawed".

Mr Geering said: "This plan is for 19 residential family units where children will live, they'll be forced to walk down an unlit country road without a footpath while mixing with traffic.

"This is a disaster waiting to happen, it hasn't been considered. I’m not against the scheme, but you cannot allow 19 units with children walking half a mile down an unlit road without alternatives for footpaths."

It was highlighted that the Highways Team at Cambridgeshire County Council had no objections to the application.

Daniel Jones, the agent for the application, said: "There is a public footpath and numerous passing places. There's no blind areas and there will be a lot less traffic. I think it's unlikely children will walk down there to go to school, but we will address concerns."

When asked if the applicant will consider upgrading the access road, Mr Jones said: "I think we will need to. We've got to sell the houses, and buyers will expect a road of quality."

Councillor Jon Neish raised concerns over waste collection and fire provisions on the access road, but said that overall, it was a "good use" of the site.

Councillor Eric Butler agreed. He said: "It’ll make a nice little development. The harm is the sustainability, but the benefits of bringing 19 new dwellings in outweighs the sustainability side."

Councillor Sam Wakeford said it was "disappointing" that there's no affordable housing set for the site, but was still happy to give the former golfer the green light for her plans.