AMBITIOUS plans for a major 18-hole golf course near Southport have been unveiled.

The proposals, which will be ready for submission to West Lancs district council planning officers by the end of February, are set to be part of the Leisure Lakes site at Mere Brow.

The course will sit alongside Southport Golf Academy’s existing nine hole course, driving range and golf school at Leisure Lakes Camping and Outdoor Pursuits Centre.

Owners are hoping the new facility will continue to attract young golfers to the centre as well as providing a cheaper and easier golfing alternative to the area’s more challenging Championship courses.

Andrew Watt, of Maze Planning Solutions, the planners behind the new course, said the development would benefit golfers across the region.

Mr Watt said: “The course location has the benefit of providing users with access to all of Leisure Lakes’ existing golf and leisure facilities.

“It marks the start of an exciting phase of new investment at Leisure Lakes which promises to provide a great range of leisure opportunities for the residents of Lancashire and beyond.”

The course will provide 5,700 yards of play with planners claiming the holes will incorporate the existing landscape, including water features, hedgerows and trees.

“West Lancashire Borough Council first gave planning permission for a golf course development on the same site in 1993,” said Mr Watt.

“Leisure Lakes has now resurrected the scheme and we have recently undertaken a formal pre-application and environmental impact assessment screening process with the Borough Council’s planning officers to confirm the site’s continued suitability in principle.”

A three week public consultation will now take place with letters being written to neighbours of the centre.

Richard Carpenter, director of Southport Golf Academy, said: “We play an important role in developing young players but after a while they are keen to play on a full size course and this new course will keep them playing in the area.”

If planning permission is approved the course is expected to employ 10-15 full time staff, with work set to begin in October this year and last 12-18 months.