Following sustained opposition from residents, sports clubs and community groups, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has confirmed it will no longer pursue proposals to relocate a pitch and putt golf course to the popular park.

Plans had been approved in January 2025 to move the pitch and putt to Down Grange as part of a conditional agreement with Great Wolf Resorts, which is seeking to build an indoor water park resort and a 500-bed hotel at Basingstoke Golf Centre.

The proposals sparked widespread concern among users of Down Grange, including Basingstoke and Mid Hants Athletic Club, the Disc Golf Club, community organisations, residents and dog walkers, who united under the Save Down Grange campaign.

In a Cabinet meeting on January 6, Cllr Kerry Morrow announced that proposals to relocate the pitch and putt to Down Grange had been ‘taken off the table’ following feedback from the community.

Cllr Morrow said: “I and the rest of my colleagues have heard over recent months just how much Down Grange means to the local communities, we have listened and we have taken action, we will no longer consider Down Grange for the new pitch and putt course.”

Residents and councillors celebrate after Down Grange is saved (Image: Newsquest)

Councillors also agreed that a 20-bay golf pod-style driving range and an 18-hole adventure golf course would instead be relocated to unused land at the Leisure Park.

Speaking at the meeting, campaigner Susie Johnson highlighted the scale of public support, explaining that the Save Down Grange Facebook page, set up just four months ago, had received more than 600,000 views from over 83,000 people.

She said: “People really do care about this space, it’s a wonderful space, it’s great to hear that it’s going to be protected.”

The decision was welcomed by local sports groups who had raised concerns about the loss of training and competition facilities.

Speaking after the meeting, Ray Gartland, Masters Athletics Secretary from Basingstoke and Mid Hants Athletic Club, said: “I am delighted with the decision, delighted that the council has reached the right decision, it’s fantastic.

Down Grange golf course CGI (Image: Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council)

“It would be nice if the town could keep a pitch and putt, but not at the expense of Down Grange.”

The council has confirmed it will now look for an alternative site for the pitch and putt.

Cllr Sean Dillow also welcomed the announcement, describing it as a victory for community action.

He said: “This is a huge win for the Down Grange community and a powerful reminder of what can be achieved when residents stand together and refuse to be ignored.

“For months, local people have lived through an emotional rollercoaster – genuinely fearing that one of Basingstoke’s most cherished open spaces would be lost.”

The campaign on October 16 (Image: Sean Dillow)

Despite the positive outcome, several residents and councillors used the opportunity to criticise how the consultation process had been handled.

Resident Lucy Wayne said she felt the council failed to properly engage with the public or sports clubs before decisions were made, and that Down Grange had been selected ‘without knowing how the area was used.’

Cllr Simon Minas-Bound echoed those concerns, saying: “I also share the campaign team’s frustration that there wasn’t meaningful engagement at the very start of this process.

“When decisions affect such an important community asset, early and genuine consultation should be the default, and it’s vital that this never happens again.”

During the cabinet meeting, Cllr Stephen Reid called on the council to go further by resolving to ‘maintain Down Grange Park as a long-term site for casual leisure and recreation activities’, rather than simply ruling out the golf relocation.

He was told by cabinet member Cllr Onnalee Cubitt that the protection of Down Grange is now implicit.