A number of surveys and technical studies have been undertaken or are currently being undertaken to inform a planning application.  The key issues that will be addressed in a planning application for the proposed practice tee and are summarised below.

Ecology

Given the ecological designations in the area, local and national planning policies require any proposal to ensure that there would be no significant adverse impact on ecological receptors, or where impacts are unavoidable, suitable mitigation can be provided.

As already mentioned, the ecological sensitivities of the area have been a major factor in choosing the site for the proposed practice range, and extensive discussions have taken place with Sefton Council, Natural England, and Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service (MEAS) to ensure the area remains suitable to attract and host future championships / major events and protecting the ecological quality of the area.

The R&A has appointed Pennine Ecological to undertake an assessment of the impact of the proposals on the designated ecological sites in the surrounding area and propose any necessary measures to avoid or mitigate impacts on the integrity of these designations (known as a Habitats Regulations Assessment).  The assessment is currently being prepared and will be submitted with a planning application.

Pennine Ecological have also undertaken a suite of site surveys over the past 18 months to identify whether protected species may be present on the site.  These have principally focused on whether the site supports the European protected species sand lizard.  Other surveys which have been undertaken include detailed botanical surveys to identify Priority Habitats, and scoping surveys for breeding birds, amphibians and mammals. 

As part of this survey and assessment work, Pennine Ecological have engaged with a number of local wildlife groups, including North Merseyside Amphibian and Reptile Group (NMARG) Green Sefton, and Merseyside Biobank.

The surveys and scoping assessments identified a population of common lizard within the site.  Appropriate precautionary measures and mitigation will be delivered to ensure the local population is maintained.  No other protected or notable species have been identified within the site. 

The site contains ‘dune grassland’ habitat which, although in poor condition, is a Priority Habitat.  The proposals will ensure appropriate habitat enhancement and creation to ensure an overall net gain for habitats overall.

Pedestrian Access and Diversion of Public Rights of Way

An existing Public Right of Way (PRoW) crosses the site of the proposed hitting tee.  In order to facilitate the construction of the tee, it is not possible for the PRoW to remain in its current alignment.  The R&A recognises the importance of this PRoW for providing access from the residential areas of Birkdale to the sand dune landscape and the coast to the west.  The PRoW will therefore be diverted as part of the proposed development.

As shown on the plan and visualisations above, it is proposed that the alignment of the PRoW will only be changed slightly.  The PRoW will be moved a few metres to the north, and it is proposed that it will be constructed of similar material to ensure that there is no change in the convenience of use for access between the residential areas and the coastal landscape.

The proposed phasing approach, as detailed above, will also ensure that minimal disturbance occurs to access across the site, with a new PRoW being provided before the existing PRoW is closed.

Whilst the planning application will propose the physical relocation of the PRoW, an application for Diversion Order will also need to be submitted.  This will be submitted once the proposed development has received planning permission.

Landscape and Visual Impacts

The landscape surrounding the site comprises a mix of golf courses, sand dunes, and built-development (Greenbank High School, the club houses at the golf courses, and residential development).

Sefton Council has undertaken a Landscape Character Assessment[1] of the area, which identifies the site and the surrounding area to be part of the “Sand Dune” landscape character area.  The Character Assessment acknowledges that this landscape is a “semi-natural” landscape and is predominantly characterised by dunes dominated by marram grass and occasional hollows.  However, it does contain man-made elements.  In this location these man-made elements principally include the significant extent of golf courses across the Royal Birkdale, Hillside and Southport and Ainsdale Golf Clubs.

In order to comply with planning policy, the extension of the practice range will need to avoid significantly altering the landscape character of the site and surrounding area.  The Character Assessment does acknowledge that golf courses are an acceptable land use in the Sand Dune landscape.  Due to much of the immediate surrounding landscape being golf course use, the small extension of the practice range would have an insignificant impact on the overall character of the area.  The character of the landscape will still be as described in Sefton’s Landscape Character Assessment.

The development will look to “mimic” the surrounding landscape to minimise landscape impact through the creation of new dunes planted with marram grass to the rear of the proposed new hitting tee.  As a result, there would not be a noticeable change in the overall character of the landscape.

Whilst the creation of the hitting tee would increase land levels, due to the undulating nature of the surrounding sand dune landscape, it would not appear visually intrusive in the landscape.  The proposed creation of new sand dunes with marram grass slopes would ensure that the proposed hitting tee assimilates into the wider landscape, thereby have no impact on views.

Highways

The proposed development would not have any impact on the level of vehicle movements associated with the use of Royal Birkdale for The Open.  The hosting of The Open is subject to other regulatory approvals, and the impact of vehicle movements generated by The Open would not be for consideration in the planning application submitted for the proposed extension to the practice range.

There would be increased vehicle movements as part of the construction process of the new practice range.  Any such vehicle movements would be for a temporary period and would not be of a scale that would have significant impacts on the operation of surrounding roads.

Following the submission of a planning application The R&A will discuss methods of minimising temporary disruption from construction activity on the site with Sefton Council.  This could include the staggering of the times when construction vehicles could access and leave the site to ensure that they avoid peak times.  Any such measures can be agreed with the Council and secured through conditions on any planning application granted.

Flood Risk

The site is not located within an area that is at risk of flooding.  The Environment Agency classifies different areas of the Country into “flood risk zones” depending on the likelihood that flooding could take place.  The site is located within Flood Zone 1, meaning it has the lowest probability of flooding. 

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There will be a planning requirement that the proposed development must not increase the risk of flooding to the surrounding area.  Following the submission of a planning application The R&A will discuss with Sefton Council measures for ensuring that flood risk is not increased, and if necessary, and such measures can be secured by planning conditions.

Noise and Vibration

As with highway / traffic impacts, the impact of noise from the hosting of The Open will not be for consideration as part of a planning application submitted for proposed practice range.  Only the impact of noise from the use of the extended practice range itself will be a consideration.   The operation of The Open itself is subject to a separate regulatory regime that will have its own noise safeguards.

Whilst the proposed hitting tee for the practice range would be slightly closer to houses than the existing hitting tee, this is not likely to lead to any disturbance to nearby residents given the low level of noise that would be generated by the proposed golf use of the area on a typical day throughout the year.  Any noise generated by the use of the hitting tee would be minimal and intermittent and would be no different to the current noise levels from the existing golf courses during their normal use throughout the year.

Whilst there would be increases in noise levels during The Open, this would be temporary and the impact of noise from the practice range would generally be imperceivable against the background noise that would be generated from other areas of Royal Birkdale during The Open.

The construction works to create the practice range may create some noise and vibration.  However, this will be minimised through the use of good practice construction methods and construction site management.  The R&A will discuss options for reducing construction noise and vibration following submission of a planning application.  This could include restricting construction activities to certain parts of the day, or the use of specific construction machinery fitted with noise reduction equipment where possible.