A family-owned golf course which has been on the market since the summer has found a buyer.
Spofforth Golf Course was put up for sale with an asking price of £2 million and is now listed by agent Lister Haigh as sold subject to contract.
In addition to what its website refers to as “the north’s premier 18-hole pay-and-play”, the 130-acre property includes a six-bay driving range, clubhouse, greenkeeping complex and car-park, a four-bed detached bungalow, a one-bed stables annexe and a double garage.
The 72-par Spofforth Golf Course, which lies just west of the village of Spofforth between Harrogate and Wetherby, opened in 1994 as a diversification of Manor Farm, which previously produced cereals and beef.
The house is still subject to an agricultural occupancy restriction stipulating that it must be occupied by someone “mainly employed or last employed in the locality in agriculture”.
It is not yet known who has bought the property or if they intend to maintain the golf course as a going concern open to the public.
The Stray Ferret approached the vendors for comment, but was told it was a “private family matter”.
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Harrogate fields valued at £5m sold as ‘development opportunity’
Thirty acres of land valued at £5m on the outskirts of Harrogate has been sold.
Land agents Lister Haigh had been marketing the green fields, which are adjacent to Forest Lane and Forest Moor Road, as having potential for future development subject to planning permission.
The company said the location benefited from nearby commuter access to Leeds and York from Starbeck and Knaresborough train stations.
The fields between Harrogate and Knaresborough are designated as green belt land to prevent urban sprawl.
Current planning rules prohibit housing from being built on the green belt unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Other exceptions are for agricultural and forestry buildings and some outdoor sports facilities.
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The land is not allocated in Harrogate Borough Council‘s Local Plan, which sets out where development can take place until 2034.
The fields are in the division of Liberal Democrat county and district councillor Pat Marsh.
Cllr Marsh said:
“The land in question is green belt and therefore protected from development. There are exceptional circumstances such as a sports pitch and the needs of forestry workers, other than that the only other reason would be lack of housing land and Harrogate is certainly not short of that. I am keeping a firm eye on the land.”
The Stray Ferret asked Lister Haigh for more details on the sale but it did not respond.
The 101-year old property business Lister Haigh has expanded its workforce with five new recruits.
The company, which was started by Oswald Lister at Clint and Hampsthwaite in 1919, has offices in Knaresborough, Harrogate and Boroughbridge.
The company’s expansion comes a week after the Stray Ferret reported a ‘manic’ July and August for the local housing market.
Tim Waring, head of residential at Lister Haigh, said:
“The majority of our appointments are due to expansion of the business post-lockdown. Our agricultural consultancy is as busy as ever. Our residential agency business is getting busier and busier, which we expect to continue into the new year.”
In July, the Chancellor Rishi Sunak increased the threshold for stamp duty from £125,000 to £500,000, which has boosted the house market. This will continue until April 2021.
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Surveyor Richard Duffus has joined the firm from London and will be based in Boroughbridge where he will work alongside Paul Johnston on residential and commercial lettings.
William Pheasey has been appointed assistant rural surveyor at the Knaresborough office.
Samantha Paterson has joined the Harrogate residential property team as a sales negotiator.
Two administrative appointments – Gill Harris at Knaresborough and Annie Thompson at Boroughbridge – complete the list of new starters at Lister Haigh.