Members of the National Park’s Planning Committee have refused an application for the change of use of an agricultural field to golf fairways at Corhampton Golf Club.

The applicant has engaged with the Authority over two pre-application submissions and there are positive aspects to the scheme, including an increase in biodiversity and some climate change measures.

However, the extensive proposals, especially the significant land re-profiling, would fundamentally alter the character and appearance of this open downland site, which is in a National Park that has been designated for the benefit of the entire nation because of its natural beauty as it exists now.

The proposed works would also fundamentally change the natural processes of the site as a result of the irrigation scheme capturing and storing water, in comparison to its current characteristic of infiltrating rainfall into the chalk aquifer.

For these reasons, the proposals do not achieve a landscape-led and ecosystems services approach to development and do not constitute sustainable development in the National Park.