East Midlands: Dinosaur park move for George V’s favourite club
One of Norfolk’s top courses may be set for a “prehistoric” move after a formal agreement was made for the purchase of the site.
Since its formation in 1893, Royal Norwich has been frequented by Royalty, including club patron King George V.
However, the club has signed an agreement with Persimmon Homes that will see the club relocate to Norwich’s Weston Park, subject to planning permission.
The move would see Royal Norwich based on a 300-acre site beside Norwich’s Dinosaur Adventure leisure park.
It would double the land available to the course, and Royal Norwich general manager Phil Grice said there is huge potential to make the club one of the best in the country. He added: “This is an incredibly historic moment. The golf club’s legal sub group have worked tirelessly over the last 12 months to achieve today’s signing. It is now over the various design teams to create a course and facilities that are seen as a new benchmark in golf.”
‘It will create a ‘must play’ golf venue for Norfolk and East Anglia’ The detailed planning work is being managed by European Golf Design’s Ross McMurray.
Emily Barnston from Fieldon & Mawson Architects, together with Richard Utting of Richard Utting Associates are working on the state-of-the-art clubhouse design and additional features for golfers and their families.
It is believed that after satisfactory planning permission is granted it will take around two years to construct and ‘grow in’ the new course at Weston Park. Until that point, Royal Norwich will carry on playing 18 holes at the Hellesdon site.
The development will allow the construction of up to 1,000 houses on the 100-acre Hellesden site.
Goymour Properties currently owns both the Dinosaur Adventure leisure park and the Weston Park site, and Martin Goymour said: “Germination for this exciting venture may be slow, but it has steadily moved forward and will create a ‘must play’ golf venue for Norfolk and East Anglia. We are proud of Weston Park and look to the future when Royal Norwich at Weston becomes a prestigious golf club and family facility.”
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