Garden Centre gets go-ahead for adventure golf course
Cadbury Garden Centre, in Congresbury, applied to build the 15-hole course late last year and has now been granted planning permission by North Somerset Council.
The application says the course will include synthetic grass and a mixture of hard and soft landscaping, alongside features such as a cave, waterfalls, ponds, a bridge and a variety of pirate-themed props.
The course will be located to the north-west of the Smallway site and, according to the council, its effect on the landscape and shops in Congresbury and Yatton will be ?minimal? once it is built.
A council report outlining the planning decision said: ?The site can be classed as previously-developed land (and) as such, the development would have a minimal impact on the landscape, which is dominated by the large sales building and car parks catering for the existing business.
?The site is located in a sustainable location, benefitting from being close to bus stops and being reasonably accessible on cycle and foot. It is considered this further diversification of business use on this site, by the introduction of this leisure use, will not undermine the viability of retail businesses located in adjoining village shopping areas.?
Planning agent Weller Designs put the proposals forward on behalf of Wyevale, which owns Cadbury.
In its design and access statement, the firm said it expected more than 20,000 people to use the course every year and said additional jobs would be created at the site.
The statement said: ?It is envisaged that the proposed adventure golf facility could attract between 20,000 and 30,000 participants each year ? some will be coming to the nursery anyway, others will be coming to specifically play the adventure golf.
?This estimated footfall requires additional staff to run and maintain the facility, with at least two additional full-time employees needed to undertake this work.
?While short-term, the actual construction of the facility will require the employment of between four and six construction workers over a period of around two months, with local labouring jobs also available during the construction period.
?Economically, the facility adds a valuable addition to the Wyevale experience, both complementing its existing family attractions and presenting an alternative attraction during times of the day or season when the nursery complex is less busy.?
