PLANS for a new golf clubhouse and 14 new homes will be decided on Wednesday.

Bosses at Bolton Old Links Golf Club in Chorley Old Road will hear whether their proposals will get the go ahead at the council’s planning committee.

The proposed redevelopment would see the current clubhouse, which was built in 1926, pulled down. This would create space for 14 new three-bedroom family houses, clustered in seven separate blocks.

The area marked for development is in the green belt, but planning officers believe the plans meet the ‘very special circumstances’ required to build on such land, because the proposed building work will result in ‘appropriate facilities for sport’ — which is one of the criteria.

While officers are recommending that the application is approved, a yes vote at Wednesday’s meeting will still see the plans sent before the Secretary of State for Communities because of the Green Belt aspect.

The housing development is seen as an ‘enabling development’ to create the funds needed for the club to build the replacement clubhouse — along with a new car park of 86 spaces.

Unlike the current clubhouse, the new one would have a view out over the moorland course with a renumbered 1st and 18th holes immediately in front.

The lower ground floor would accommodate the entrance lobby, professional’s shop, plant room and steward’s accommodation.

On the ground floor will be a secondary entrance and lobby, male and female locker rooms, toilets and showers and a lounge while visitors will find on the first floor the dining-cum-function room and bar, an external balcony, toilets, the kitchen, the bar store and a snooker room.

The club said: "The proposed new clubhouse is part of an overall project to revive the status of the Old Links Golf Club in regional golfing circles to enable championship quality golf events to be re-instated.

"While the course itself remains of exceptionally high quality and high regard, changing circumstances and requirements have resulted in the Championship status of the club being lost in recent years.”

A spokesman added: "The new golf clubhouse would serve and enhance the existing golf course bringing facilities up to modern day standards.”