Centurion Golf Club plans to remove trees for expansion

The Centurion Club in Hertfordshire hosted the first LIV golf tournament in 2022

Residents near a golf club have opposed expansion plans as they say it will mean the loss of hundreds of trees.

Centurion Golf Club, near Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, submitted a planning application to increase the 18 hole course by another 10 holes.

For the past two years, the venue has been used for the LIV golf tournament.

In a statement, Centurion Golf Club said "no veteran trees or grade A trees" are to be removed and "only 8% of grade B trees" would be lost.

"Since its inception, not only has Centurion Club provided a world class golfing facility for the local area but it has planted over 20,000 trees and shrubs and our current plans include a further 26,000 indigenous trees and plants," the club said.

In 2022 the Hertfordshire club hosted the LIV golf tournament which involved some of the sport's top players.

It is believed over 1,800 trees are located on the land of the proposed development which is by the existing 18 hole course

The site is located off the A4147 Hemel Hempstead Road, which is in the Potters Crouch area between St Albans and Hemel Hempstead.

Rupert Evershed, a resident of St Albans and Chair of Herts Bird Club, said he was shocked when he heard about the plans which would affect Great Furzefield Wood.

"To discover over 52% of the woodland is going to be removed, to create a golf course, is quite shocking," he said.

Rupert Evershed, chairman of Herts Bird Club, said the woodland is used by rare species

Mr Evershed said the proposed plans "would be a very real loss to bio-diversity".

"There are some rare butterflies there, we think it's likely there are some rare breeding birds there, it would be a big impact," he said.

Green councillor Juliet Voisey, from St Albans City and District Council, described the woodland as a "very peaceful magical place."

Although she said the club's plan to plant new trees is admirable, she added: "They're taking out a mature woodland that's already there."

Mr Evershed said "a mature oak tree, of which there are many in the wood, will support over 2000 species"

Centurion Golf Club said it undertook ecological surveys which played a significant role in the planning application

It said some tree felling was necessary to form greens and fairways.

The club added it had been able to "considerably limit tree-felling and avoid intruding on areas of ecological sensitivity". 

The club encouraged people to review the plans, which are visible on the St Albans City and District Council planning website.

The council said it did not comment on live planning applications but said the application was out for consultation until 30 December.