THE owner of a golf club that is fighting for survival has launched a second bid to transform part of the site into housing.

Robin Day said Bolton Open Golf Club in Longsight Lane, Harwood, needed a cash boost to secure its future, but Bolton Council threw out his controversial plan to build 13 homes on greenbelt land last July.

Mr Day has now come back with a smaller development for six homes.

Bolton planning committee rejected the previous application because planning chiefs said it failed to demonstrate the special circumstances needed to allow development of greenbelt.

However, the newplan is smaller in scale.

The clubhouse would be converted into four three-storey houses each with four bedrooms and one threestorey house with five bedrooms. An extension would be added to accommodate two twostorey houses each with three bedrooms and there would be 12 parking spaces.

There is no proposal to change the golf club.

Mr Day said the current financial climate meant the club was struggling and allowing housing on the land would enable it to survive.

He added: “We had to lay people off after the last planning application was rejected. We’re hoping to keep the golf course open with five staff as a nine-hole course with a reception in the cabin where the first tee was and our overheads will be lower.”

He added: “We’ve cut the application down in size which means we don’t need to prove special circumstances for developing the greenbelt, so we are hopeful the application will be passed.”

People can contact the council with views on the application until March 15. The council is aiming to make a decision by April 15.