Green Circle is teeing up for a spring start on the project, which will see the 198-acre golf club undergo a substantial remodel, with the introduction of a revamped 18-hole championship course, nine-hole academy course, and an 18-hole adventure golf excursion – as well as a new clubhouse.
Knowsley Council gave the Kirkby Valley project the green light during its Thursday planning committee meeting last week. If construction can begin next spring, the golf club could open its doors in April 2028.
Kirkby Valley was founded in 1928 and sits off Valley Road. Owner Green Circle argued that it needed a makeover to make it more attractive to modern golf players and fans, including an improvement in its facilities and more variation in the elevation of the course itself.
Green Circle has been working on reconfiguring the course and increasing its appeal since 2021, when plans were submitted. Those were subsequently revised, with a new version submitted in 2023 that left out previous suggestions such as a tennis court and bowling green.
Roman Summer has been the planner for the project since its inception. Director Richard Gee said he was “delighted” in the council’s decision.
“It’s been a long process, but we are grateful to Knowsley Council planning officers who have worked with us to refine plans and ensure the best possible scheme that will deliver one of the UK’s premier public pay and play golf destinations,” he said.
This revised application represents a £20m investment and the potential to create 75 permanent, full-time jobs, according to Green Circle. The group said that it would ensure many of those jobs went out to the local labour market. It also committed to using local contractors and suppliers during the construction phase of the scheme.
International Design Group, which specialises in golf courses, has drafted the plans for the three courses.
Having a variety of courses open to those of differing skill levels is part of Green Circle’s Total Golf model, according to the company’s property director, Michael Hanlon.
“Golf is at the core of our business and our Total Golf model is about breaking down barriers to participation and making the game as attractive, accessible, and affordable to as many people as possible,” Hanlon said.
“Kirkby Valley is a unique asset, as it enables us to offer every format of the game in one location. This will be a ground-breaking development and completely unique in this region.”
IDG owner Andrew added: “We set out to deliver a fantastic golf-for-all offer whilst safeguarding Kirkby Valley’s landscape and environmental value. We’re proud to be delivering a significant net gain in the site’s ecology and biodiversity, through new planting and habitat creation.”
Brock Carmichael Architects led the clubhouse design, which has a golf shop, function space, and restaurant. The firm also designed the two-tier driving range, which also has a golf simulation area and teaching spaces.
John Cassell, partner at Brock Carmichael Architects, described the clubhouse and driving range building as “first-class social and leisure facilities”.
“It was important that the design and materials of the buildings fitted in with the wider masterplan, and complemented the natural landscape and visual character of the course,” he added.
In addition to Roman Summer, IDG, and Brock Carmichael, the project team includes Booth King Partnership, Prime Transport Planning, Ecology Services, Tree Solutions, and Crookes Walker Consulting.
To see the application details, search reference number 21/00744/FUL on Knowsley Council’s planning portal.
