Proposals to convert part of Birkdale Common in Southport into a practice range for the world’s top golfers playing at The Open Golf Championship at Royal Birkdale have been recommended for approval. 

The  application by R&A Championships Limited is the only one on the agenda when Sefton Council’s Urgent Referrals Planning Committee meets to make its decision on the scheme at Bootle Town Hall from 6.30pm on Monday, 18th August 2025. 

A petition with 32 names has been submitted against the scheme, with the petitioners due to present their case at the meeting. 

Sefton Council’s Planning team is advising councillors to agree to the proposals. 

In their report, they said: “The application seeks planning permission for the change of use of part of the open land linked to what is commonly known as Birkdale Common to golf course use, to improve the existing practice tee located within Hillside Golf Course. The works include the erection of new fencing and gates around the teeing area, introduction of new landscaping, re-profiling works of the land and the diversion of the existing track which cuts through the site which is a public right of way.

“It has been advised by the applicant that the existing practice range at Royal Birkdale is no longer a suitable location for providing the overall world class facility required for The Open and it is not possible to improve and extend the existing practice range at Royal Birkdale, which is needed for infrastructure to support the Championship. 

“The proposed extension is required to provide improved facilities to ‘maintain Royal Birkdale as a safe, world class, and competitive facility… to accommodate a major sporting event’. 

“This would allow the premises to continue to be used for future Open events, primarily for the Open Golf Championships which utilises both the Royal Birkdale Golf Course and Hillside. 

“This is a major, high profile sporting event recognised worldwide which brings visitors to the area and helps to generate a significant amount of tourism and revenue for the borough, both locally and wider within the Liverpool City Region. 

“The previous Open Golf Championships held at Royal Birkdale in 2017 saw 235,000 spectators, making this one of the most successful Open events in terms of spectator numbers. “Supporting Sefton’s Golf Coast, including hosting major golfing events, is a priority in Liverpool City Region Destination Management Plan and the Local Plan. It is recognised within the Local Plan that the Golf Coast helps make Sefton distinctive, promoting tourism within the Borough. 

“There is therefore a clear benefit for the borough in terms of the hosting of the Open and this development would help to improve the quality of the golf course to ensure events such as the Open continue to visit.

“The space to be lost is less than 1 hectare, while the overall space within Birkdale Common is in excess of 28 hectares. The proposal would also include the realignment of the public right of way, which would ensure that access is still available to the wider Birkdale Common from the Hastings Road access point. 

“It is therefore considered that the loss of the public open space would be limited while the benefits of the proposal in relation to the retention of facilities capable of hosting a world renown golf tournament and enhancing facilities at world renown golf courses promoting tourism and bringing significant economic benefit to the borough and the wider Liverpool City Region outweighs the limited harm associated with the loss of a small part of the Birkdale Common.” 

A total of 89 letters have been received from neighbouring properties and interested parties, objecting for reasons including:

Make changes to support Open week, but no justification for change to be made on permanent basis 

No justification for fence with the exception of the lead-up to tournaments 

Clause ‘acceptable loss of space as proposed development is for reasons of sport and recreational purposes’ is not satisfied because amenity will be enjoyed solely by members. Public will be excluded, does not outweigh the loss of common land

Councillor Shaw has submitted a petition containing 32 signatures, endorsed by Councillor Pugh, against the application for the following reason: “We the undersigned have grave concerns about the planning fencing around the proposed Hitting Tee which extends significantly into the southern end of Birkdale Common between Hastings Road and the existing public car park adjacent to Royal Birkdale Golf Club.”

5 letters of support were also received. The matters raised include: 

Economic benefits to local area are substantial 

Proposed practice range extension represents thoughtful planning that prioritises environmental protection 

Golf brings a lot of business / visitors to Southport and we need to protect this moving forward  

The next tournament takes place next year (2026), with tournaments coming to Southport around every eight years. 

A planning statement submitted by DLP Planning Ltd Liverpool on behalf of R&A said: 

“The proposed development comprises improvement works necessary to facilitate Royal Birkdale Golf Club hosting The 154th Open in 2026 and future Golf Championships held in the area. 

“The Open is golf’s original championship. Played since 1860 on iconic links golf courses, it is the sport’s most international major championship, with qualifying events on every continent. For one week each year, the pursuit of the famous Claret Jug trophy is the focus of the sporting world, followed globally by millions of fans. 

“Since first hosting The Open in 1954, Royal Birkdale has been the most regular venue for the Championship other than St Andrews. The Open will return to Royal Birkdale for the 11th time in 2026, as it stages The 154th Open. 

“Since Royal Birkdale last hosted The Open in 2017, the Championship has evolved. The nature of the game and the requirements for professional golfers has also changed significantly.

“Greater demands are now placed on course layout, practice facilities, experience, and infrastructure. There has also been a reduction in available land around the golf course to locate facilities needed to host The Open. After reviewing the available space to stage The Open at Royal Birkdale, it has been determined that a new location for practice facilities is required to maintain a safe, world-class, and competitive facility, with the suitable infrastructure space to accommodate a major sporting event. 

“The application site has been identified as the most suitable option for providing the world-class practice facilities required by extending the existing practice range at Hillside Golf Club.”

Do you have a story for Stand Up For Southport? Do you need advertising, PR or media support? Please message Andrew Brown via Facebook here or email me at: mediaandrewbrown@gmail.com 

Write A Comment