Construction due to begin on Sandford Springs Golf Club hotel
Situated just outside the village on the A339, Sandford Springs Golf Club has confirmed that construction of the 40-bedroom hotel will start on Monday, October 22.
The three-star hotel will have 40 twin rooms, a breakfast buffet area and a relaxation zone and will overlook the 11th green and 12th tee on The Wood course.
The club forms part of the Leaderboard group and the clubhouse, which is located in the heart of Watership Down and is also used as a venue for weddings, will also see a major refurbishment, including new changing rooms and kitchen. The club has a 27-hole course, comprising three different nine holes: The Lakes, The Park and The Wood.
The hotel will create some 20 jobs, bringing extra employment opportunities for the local community at the club.
The club’s general manager, Andrew Wild, said that staff were excited and could not wait for the work to begin.
“It will be a valuable addition to our club, as well as the local community. Throughout the building process we will strive to incorporate environmentally responsible practices and have chosen an architectural design in keeping with the landscape in this most beautiful part of England,” said Mr Wild.
The club has said that all the facilities for members will be available throughout the construction of the hotel.
The development follows a wait of around a year, as technicalities in the hotel’s design were ironed out, following the approval of a planning application in October last year by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, which has classified the hotel as a major development.
Work at the hotel, which will be sited less than 200 yards from the main clubhouse, is being carried out by Abingdon-based Leadbitter Construction and, when completed, will be available for the use of both members and non-members.
The president of the club, former ITV World of Sport presenter, Dickie Davies, is to kick off the digging to lay the hotel’s foundations with a ceremony at the club on Monday, October 22, together with Sandford Springs owners Paul and Jennifer Gibbons.
