Whitburn Golf Club has won an appeal against South Tyneside Council’s refusal to grant planning permission for a swing studio in the club’s Lizard Lane clubhouse.
While South Tyneside’s planning department found the plans acceptable in terms of design, biodiversity and highways, planners refused the extension in February and said the plans represented an “inappropriate development within the green belt,” and would cause harm to the “spatial and visual openness”.
The golf club lodged an appeal with the Planning Inspectorate and inspector John Dowsett was appointed by the Secretary of State to assess the council’s decision. He has published a report after visiting the club and granted planning permission.
His report said the development would “not be inappropriate development within the green belt” and would have a “neutral effect” on its openness.
It’s understood the club have been granted planning permission for three years, but have no immediate plans to start work on the project.
