Expansion hope for golf course nature reserve plan

A plan to transform a disused golf club into the largest nature reserve in the West Midlands should be copied elsewhere, councillors have said.

The 64-hectare Brandon Wood Golf Course scheme in Coventry was given the green light by the city council's cabinet on Tuesday.

The new reserve, which sits alongside Brandon Marshes, would be managed by Warwickshire Wildlife Trust.

Cabinet member Jim O'Boyle explained the project would be funded by biodiversity net gain (BNG) credits, introduced by the government in 2024. "The plans we have here would see this site funded for 30 years," he said.

Councillors are keen to hit a climate change strategy target of conserving and managing 30% of land and inland waters by 2030. The figure currently stands at 11%.

Councillor Patricia Hetherton, cabinet member for city services, said the site, which closed as a golf course in 2020, would be accessible by bus and other alternatives to the car.

"We have Coundon Wedge and the Arboretum on London Road where they are bringing trees back that were there 200 years ago," she added.

"Let's show [people] what is going on in our city because there is so much good work going on."

Conservative leader Gary Ridley also praised the transformation plans and urged the council to explore using BNGs to fund projects elsewhere.

"There are certainly a number of sites around the city that could benefit from this, the most obvious of course being Coundon Wedge which has been subject to all kinds of speculation over the years around development," he added.

"This would absolutely put it to bed, turning that site into a nature reserve."

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service which covers councils and other public service organisations.

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