WORK could start later this year on a new 50-bedroom hotel at Broome Manor after the proposed expansion was given planning permission.

The popular golf course is run by Twigmarket, which took on the lease in 2014 saying it was looking at ways of finding other revenue streams.

Plans were unveiled last summer for the hotel as well as a new adventure golf course and, after consultation with users, the application was submitted in November.

While there was initial concern about the proposals, some changes were made by Twigmarket which says the development will provide a big boost to the venue.

“We’re obviously very pleased the plans have been approved,” said company director Jeremy Sturgess.

“They were part of our initial proposals when we took on the lease, to not just focus on golf so it was important these were approved.

“It will secure the long-term future of Broome Manor as a public facility.”

The hotel will be built as part of an extension to the club-house while the club shop will also be expanded and leased out.

There will also be three extra lanes on the re-located petanque pitch, a wooden shelter, enlarged female changing facilities and a members’ lounge.

Among the concerns raised during the consultation were whether guests staying at the hotel would be given priority of tee-off times, something which has been ruled out.

Twigmarket has also confirmed the cost of using the course will not rise as a result of the changes.

Jeremy says by speaking with users and addressing concerns early on in the process, a better application was put together which only received one comment of objection.

He said: “During the consultation we listened to people and took their views on board which were very useful.

“There were a number of legitimate concerns raised about the hotel which we responded to. Because of these, we made several important changes which improved the application.

“This was the right way to approach this and the fact there was very little objection shows the benefits of doing this.”

Despite gaining the planning permission, work is unlikely to start on the expansion until the autumn at the earliest and maybe not until the start of 2017.

This is to ensure there is no disruption to the busy summer period. As well as taking on Broome Manor, Twigmarket has confirmed it is one of the parties interested in taking over the lease of Lydiard Park and House.