Planning permission for a £3 million state-of-the-art golf driving range and club house at The Rose Bowl, West End, was unanimously granted by Eastleigh Borough Council's planning committee at an early morning site meeting today (Wednesday 20th February 2002).

The permission gives the green light to The Rose Bowl to proceed with developing additional sporting facilities on the 150-acre site, currently the headquarters of Hampshire County Cricket Club.

The 20-acre driving range, which will be adjacent to the existing nine-hole golf course, will incorporate a futuristic building containing 64 individual driving bays situated on two levels plus a club house, bar and shop. The target area will be designated to resemble a championship golf course complete with greens, bunkers, watercourse and even a waterfall feature. Plans are also underway to include the latest in modern golf technology including electronic equipment that will record the length of each golf shot.

"We are obviously delighted by Eastleigh's decision." said Graham Walker, chief executive at The Rose Bowl. "Yet again Eastleigh has confirmed its vision and support to develop The Rose Bowl into a regional sporting centre of excellence, accessible to everyone within the borough and elsewhere.

"Without the support of the council and its officers, The Rose Bowl would find it difficult to fulfil our commitment to provide the very best sporting facilities in the South."

Colin Peters, head of development contol, commented: "We are pleased that the planning committee has accepted our recommendation to allow The Rose Bowl to be developed as a site of sporting established within the current facilities."

"We recognise that the site is within a strategic gap, however we believe the need to maintain sporting excellence is paramount and that it is appropriate to continue the sporting development of the land."

The driving range is being developed in partnership with Playgolf whose managing director, David Piggins, said: "To receive detailed planning consent from Eastleigh is particularly encouraging given the work that has been undertaken over the last year."

"We're very excited about the prospect of uniting golf and cricket and hopefully, in the future, other sports which we think will offer unrivalled opportunities for the region's youngsters to get involved in sport."

© Hants CCC