FRESH plans drawn up to create a golf driving range on green belt land have been knocked back once again.

It comes after planning chiefs previously rejected the scheme in Lower Stretton in September 2022 citing concerns over the impact on green belt.

Plans were resubmitted to Warrington Borough Council for a change of use of land at Walnut Tree Farm on Northwich Road in January, but have now been refused permission again.

These were for the erection of buildings for the driving range, including the provision of parking, landscaping and ‘biodiversity enhancements’, together with diversion of public footpath.

The land is currently listed as agricultural use, documents state, as well as the creation of parking spaces for 46 cars and two full-time jobs.

Opening hours would be a maximum of between 7am and 10pm, Monday to Sunday. No flood lighting is proposed, with opening hours will be reduced during the winter to daylight hours.

Planning documents state: “As with many agricultural practices, Walnut Tree Farm has been subject to substantial pressure to diversify in recent years.

“As a result, there are currently a number of uses on site in addition to the existing agricultural operation.

“The uses on site include a range of agricultural buildings used for the existing dairy operation, farm shop, café, offices and a document storage business.

“The application is a resubmission of the application which was refused by the council in September 2022.

“Three reasons for refusal were given which related to the proposal being inappropriate development in the green belt, impact on protected species and impact on the rural setting.

“The scheme has been modified to address these concerns, with the building set at a slightly different angle to avoid impact on protected species, and with additional areas of landscape planting and biodiversity net gain.”

They add: “The proposals are appropriate development in the green belt.

“However, if they are treated as inappropriate development, there are very special circumstances in this case that outweigh the harm to the extent that planning permission ought to be granted.”

Objections were submitted by Stretton Parish Council and Cllr Kenneth Critchley.

In refusing permission, Warrington Borough Council said: “The proposed golf driving range building would result in substantial harm to the green belt, by way of inappropriateness and loss of openness.

“It is acknowledged that the change of use of the land and creation of the golf driving range could deliver a number of benefits, including those to individuals with protected characteristics.

“However, these benefits are considered to be limited, and do not amount to the very special circumstances necessary to clearly outweigh the substantial harm to the green belt.”

A decision document adds that the development ‘encroaches into the open countryside and therefore visually damages the open character of the area’.

It has also not been satisfactorily demonstrated that the proposal would not result in the loss of the ‘best and most versatile agricultural land’.