A GOLF course has won permission at the second time of asking to turn its clubhouse into a private mansion.

The owners of Mobberley Golf Club, owned by Ollerton LLP, were successful in their plea to Cheshire East councillors at a planning meeting held in Macclesfield on Wednesday, November 28 after being knocked back three months ago.

The firm now has permission to turn the clubhouse into a mansion, with the golf course being used for the owner of the house on a private basis.

As part of the application, a section 106 planning clause was included, which will mean the golf course could not be used for commercial gain, and as a result will not be open to the public.

At the August meeting, Rupert Webb, co-owner of the company that owns the course, said the club was costing £10,000 to £15,000 each month to run and he had struggled to sell the course in the past.

At the Northern Planning committee meeting, councillors voted with a majority of two to pass the plans.

Clr Jamie Macrae, ward councillor for Mobberley, was not present at the meeting, but in a statement to the committee said he believed the plans should be passed.

“The issues have been addressed from last time and this will make sure the rural landscape is maintained and has the support from local residents and the parish council,” he said.

“It will bring closure for many.”

Some members of the committee were concerned about the golf course being hired out for corporate golf days, but planning officers added a restriction to prevent this from taking place.

It was also decided that if the golf course was not maintained that it would return to agricultural use.

Clr Hilda Gaddum said: “I believe this is a sensible use, but I’m disappointed by the design of the building – it would have been good if it had more individuality about it.”

But Clr David Neilson added: “I don’t support this, and I think the guidelines for this sort of development should never have been changed. If this golf course wasn’t there we would never have allowed it.”