A Sussex golf club that was to be concreted over and converted into a major housing development has had its future secured.
Rookwood Golf Course in Horsham will remain in operation for the next 25 years, after Horsham District Council signed a new lease with the course’s operator.
Council leaders confirmed the deal with British Ensign Golf Group and pledged to protect local green spaces.
Councillor David Skipp, cabinet member for wellbeing, culture and green spaces, said: “We are really pleased that we have now secured the long-term future of Rookwood Golf Course as a vital leisure offering and green space area for all to enjoy.
“We fully recognise the value of the Rookwood site both for its provision of a high-quality golf course, and its vital green space area for walking and enjoying nature.”
Plans for up to 1,100 homes on the land were originally unveiled in 2020.
However, local opposition was strong, and campaigners argued the site was a crucial asset for wildlife and the community.
The council later shelved the plans and withdrew them from its local plan.
British Ensign Golf Group has run the course for nearly 30 years.
Edward Blacker, director of the group, said: “We are delighted to extend our business’s tenure at Rookwood Golf Course.
“We look forward to continuing to enhance the services we offer the community, through ongoing improvements to the golf course and the quality of other services we provide, such as our bar and restaurant facilities as well as event hire for weddings and parties.”
Council bosses say the site is now an essential part of their 2025/2026 Annual Plan, with a focus on enhancing biodiversity.
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