THE owner of a golf clubhouse badly damaged in a blaze is desperate to regenerate the building.

Robin Day said he was forced to shut Bolton Open Golf Club after it had cost him up to £600,000 just to cover losses while it was still running.

He wants to demolish the derelict building and replace it with six tailor-made homes, which have all been pre-sold subject to planning permission being given.

The clubhouse in Harwood was destroyed in a suspected arson attack on the night of Tuesday, June 9.

The building and its car park have been empty for about four years and residents said it has become a hotspot for anti-social behaviour.

The course is still open to the public, and Mr Day said the redevelopment would retain a nine-hole course and driving range.

He said: “Every application we have put in has gone to the council committee recommended for approval.

“Each time it has not gone through the committee because of a small but vociferous group of local people.

“We tried everything to support it. We had lost £600,000 on it. We just could not keep it going any longer.

“What we have tried to do by talking to the council is downsize and run a smaller golf centre which is cost efficient

“We are determined not to give in and we want to get rid of the building so it can be of some use to people and create some nice houses.”

The plot is in the green belt, and last month an appeal against Bolton Council's decision to reject a plan to transform it into housing was thrown out by the planning inspectorate.

The fire caused substantial damage to the roof of the building, and it is not yet known how it was started.

Mr Day added: “It is frustrating as the building is sitting there doing nothing.

“It seems like every week kids are going in and we are getting a message saying the council have had to go out to secure it.”

An investigation into the blaze is ongoing, with firefighters believing it to have been maliciously started.

A woman who lives in Longsight Lane, who asked not to be named, said: "That clubhouse wants knocking down. The land should be returned to the green belt.

"You do wonder that it is being left as the more derelict it becomes the more chance the council might give permission to turn it into houses."

In 2010, Mr Day first outlined plans to transform the space, but that plan for 16 houses, six apartments and 26 parking spaces was rejected.