Canons Brook Golf Club

In July 2009, architecture & design services were appointed as architects to Canons Brook Golf Club. architecture & design services were tasked with developing plans for the refurbishment and remodelling of the late C15/early C16 “Canons Barn” (Dated 1467AD to 1532AD) which is a Grade 2 listed structure and currently accommodates the Male Changing Areas and Function Suite.

architecture & design services were also asked to provide strategic guidance with regards the future development of the site to maximise the potential of the Clubs current facilities.

Canons Brook Golf Club is situated on the Northern edge of Harlow New Town and falls within the ward of Little Parndon & Hare Street.

The site used today as the golf course originally formed part of the manor of Canons which lay mainly in the north end of the parish of Great Parndon, with detached woodland and waste in the south.

Canons Brook Golf Club itself opened in 1966 and was designed by Sir Henry Cotton, whose philosophy was to create a championship length course with very little rough, but incorporating many bunkers and large undulating greens.

The primary objective of the proposed refurbishment was to separate the Male Changing Areas from the Function Suite and associated toilet facilities and to expose the historic timber structure that was hidden to open up the changing areas and improve the character and feeling of space.

It was also hoped to improve the natural daylighting of the changing rooms, thus reducing reliance on artificial lighting, by inserting rooflights in appropriate areas.

There was a need to increase the capacity of the locker area, as well as improve the aesthetics of the installed lockers, and it was proposed that the existing mezzanine floor that was formed over the changing room lobby be extended.

With the separation of the Male Changing Area from the Function Suite and associated facilities, there was a requirement to provide new male toilets.

The Golf Club were also aware that their existing facilities were not particularly suited to those with mobility issues and so an integral part of the brief was that the refurbished Male Changing Area should, as far as is practical, be designed to comply with the Disabled Discrimination Act or Approved Document M of the Building Regulations.

During July and August, architecture & design services developed plans for the refurbishment of the listed building which resulted in an application for Listed Building Consent being submitted to Harlow Council in September 2009.

Listed Buildings Consent was granted in November 2009.

Detailed construction drawings were then prepared ahead of a Building Regulations Application being lodged in December 2009. The application was approved in less than a month.

In January 2010, the scheme came to wider attention when it was featured in the Harlow Star’s sports pages.

The project is currently out to tender and, it is hoped, will be completed by April 2010.

To view the proposed plans - Click here

To read the design and access statement - Click here

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