One of Surrey's most historic golf clubs is set for demolition after plans to construct homes on the site were approved. Redhill and Reigate Golf Club, founded in 1887, has been vacant since 2019.
Planning Approval Granted
This month, planning officers at Reigate and Banstead Borough Council (RBBC) approved proposals to tear down the club and build ten properties on the land. The club was among the county's most established, second only to Guildford Golf Club, which opened in 1886.
The 18-hole course has remained unused since its closure, though the clubhouse was rented for functions until around 2022. After closure, the land reverted to common land status under council control, triggering several redevelopment proposals.
Revised Plans
A 2022 planning application for ten homes was initially rejected by RBBC but later approved on appeal, though it never progressed beyond planning. In January 2026, developer Aquinna Homes submitted revised plans based on the earlier approval. The scheme received final approval in May 2026.
The development includes six detached four-bedroom houses, two semi-detached three-bedroom properties, and two semi-detached two-bedroom homes. Each property will have its own heat pump and parking facilities.
Local Reactions
The 2026 proposals drew fewer objections than earlier schemes, with seven comments. Some residents supported demolition but criticized the housing density. One local said: "I don't object to residential development, but the proposed development is completely unsuitable. There are too many properties for this-sized plot."
Another resident noted that the 2022 application faced 200 objections and called the new plan an "even more dense, incongruous and cramped over-development." Concerns were also raised about noise from heat pumps.
History of the Club
Originally a 9-hole course on Earlswood Common, it expanded to 18 holes before a redesign in 1910. In 2013, after 126 years of member ownership, it was sold to private owners. In 2019, owners announced closure, with then-chairman Tony Hallett citing "adverse trading conditions" and financial inviability.
