Residents have objected to plans to demolish the former Great Denham Golf Club clubhouse and build up to five homes, warning the scheme could pave the way for wider redevelopment of the site.
The outline application, submitted on behalf of the Old Ford End Trust, seeks permission to demolish the clubhouse and construct up to five residential dwellings on land off Carnoustie Drive.
Planning documents say the golf course closed in October 2020, and the building has since been left unused, with vandalism and theft reported.
The applicant argues the site is a suitable brownfield location for housing within the Bedford urban area and says evidence has been submitted to show the former golf course and its associated facilities are no longer required.
Several objections challenged this claim, arguing that there is still demand for golf provision locally and that no adequate evidence has been provided to justify its loss.
One objector accused the applicant of failing to step up the burden of proof for the lack of need, and instead were “apparently preferring instead to provide assumptions of an anecdotal nature”.
A series of objections also claims the proposal should not be considered in isolation.
Residents argue the application is linked to a separate proposal affecting another part of the former golf course.
One wrote: “This new application is suggestive of a plan to move on with further and probably extensive building on the green spaces.”
One commenter said that approving the scheme would “mark the first irreversible step” towards the “merging of Biddenham and Great Denham”.
Concerns have also been raised about the loss of open space and green infrastructure.
“As a local resident, teacher, runner, and dog walker, I regularly use the routes between Biddenham and Great Denham,” one objector wrote.
“Since the cessation of formal golf operations, the site has continued to function as an informal but highly valued community asset, supporting recreation, wellbeing, and connectivity.”
Other issues raised include the potential impact on local services, traffic, flood risk and the loss of a site designated as an Asset of Community Value.
The applicant was contacted for comment, including on claims that the proposal could form part of a wider redevelopment of the former golf course, but had not responded at the time of publication.
More information can be found on Bedford Borough Council’s planning portal, reference 26/00596/OUT.
The overall consultation expiry date is Tuesday, 19 May 2026.
By John Guinn
Local Democracy Reporter
