London Borough of Redbridge

Map showing golf courses in borough.

Redbridge has six active golf courses, (excluding those with fewer than nine holes) which together cover a total of 374.08 hectares. That's approximately 6.63% of the borough's total area. Of these, three are publicly owned.

Course NameFreehold Ownership
Fairlop Waters Country ParkPrivately-owned
Wanstead Golf ClubPrivately-owned
Ilford Golf CourseOwned by borough
Hainault Forest Golf ClubOwned by borough
The Warren Park Golf CentrePrivately-owned
Woodford Golf CourseOther public body

In total, Redbridge has 135 holes across these courses.

Assuming one hole takes an average of 12.5 minutes to play, and that a maximum of four players can play each hole at the same time, the maximum number of people occupying Redbridge's courses over a twelve-hour day is 1,688, or 540 people at a time. Therefore the total maximum density across the borough's golf courses is 1.44 people per hectare.

Redbridge has an approximate housing density of around 19 homes per hectare. If new homes were to be built on all of the publicly-owned courses in the borough, at this density it would deliver circa 2,560 homes.

Alternatively, if housing was built on those areas of golf course limited to within 800m of a station or high street, or with a PTAL of 3 or more, then around 2,625 homes could be delivered at prevailing densities. That figure is 18.63% of total housing target for the next 10 years according to the Intend to the New London Plan.

However, the current London Plan advocates for higher density development in areas with good access to public transport. Assuming a (conservative) target of 60 dwellings per hectare, the total capacity of Redbridge's golf courses to provide new housing is 8,306, assuming only those areas of courses within the new London Plan policy H2 zone are reclaimed for housing. That is 58.95% of the borough's total housing target for the next decade.

Based on an average occupancy of 4 people per home (based on 3.1–3.7 hr/unit), the total number of people living within the H2 zone of these courses would be 33,226.

Using the same methodology for publicly-owned golf courses within Redbridge, a total of 1,227 homes might be created (2.75% of the London Plan target). Based on an average occupancy of 4 people per home (based on 3.1–3.7 hr/unit), the total number of people living within the H2 zone of these courses would be 4,908.

Redbridge has 7,172 people in temporary accommodation, and 5,434 households on its housing waiting list.

Area of Golf Courses by Freehold Ownership Type

Fairlop Waters Country Park

Fairlop Waters Country Park is a privately-owned golf course with 27 holes, and an area of 76.77 hectares.

The freehold is owned by private individuals.

64.02 hectares (83.39%) of the course's area lie within the London Plan Policy H2 zone (ie. within 800m of a station or town centre, or with a PTAL of 3 or more).

If the area of this course within the policy H2 zone were released for housing at existing borough densities (around 19 homes per hectare), it might be possible accommodate around 1,214 homes.

However, with a more ambitious density target of 125% compared to prevailing densities, this could be increased to around 1,518 homes.

The current London Plan advocates densities of between 35 and 130 dwellings per hectare, depending on PTAL. Assuming an average density of 60 dph, the capacity of golf courses within the new London Plan policy H2 zone is around 3,841.

The entirety of this course's area lies within the green belt.

Includes two courses: 1 x 18-hole and 1 x 9-hole, plus driving range. Operated by charity Vision RCL.

Hainault Forest Golf Club

Hainault Forest Golf Club is a publicly-owned golf course with 36 holes, and an area of 122.25 hectares.

The freehold is owned by London Borough of Redbridge, under freehold title number EGL552602.

The entirety of this course's area lies within the green belt.

Comprises 2 courses, each with 18 holes

Ilford Golf Course

Ilford Golf Course is a publicly-owned golf course with 18 holes, and an area of 35.95 hectares.

The freehold is owned by London Borough of Redbridge, under freehold title number EGL540523.

20.45 hectares (56.88%) of the course's area lie within the London Plan Policy H2 zone (ie. within 800m of a station or town centre, or with a PTAL of 3 or more).

If the area of this course within the policy H2 zone were released for housing at existing borough densities (around 19 homes per hectare), it might be possible accommodate around 388 homes.

However, with a more ambitious density target of 125% compared to prevailing densities, this could be increased to around 485 homes.

The current London Plan advocates densities of between 35 and 130 dwellings per hectare, depending on PTAL. Assuming an average density of 60 dph, the capacity of golf courses within the new London Plan policy H2 zone is around 1,227.

The entirety of this course's area lies within the green belt.

The Warren Park Golf Centre

The Warren Park Golf Centre is a privately-owned golf course with 18 holes, and an area of 50.23 hectares.

The freehold is owned by The Crown, under freehold title number TGL441043.

29.31 hectares (58.35%) of the course's area lie within the London Plan Policy H2 zone (ie. within 800m of a station or town centre, or with a PTAL of 3 or more).

If the area of this course within the policy H2 zone were released for housing at existing borough densities (around 19 homes per hectare), it might be possible accommodate around 556 homes.

However, with a more ambitious density target of 125% compared to prevailing densities, this could be increased to around 695 homes.

The current London Plan advocates densities of between 35 and 130 dwellings per hectare, depending on PTAL. Assuming an average density of 60 dph, the capacity of golf courses within the new London Plan policy H2 zone is around 1,759.

The entirety of this course's area lies within the green belt.

Wanstead Golf Club

Wanstead Golf Club is a privately-owned golf course with 18 holes, and an area of 40.20 hectares.

The freehold is owned by The Wanstead Sports Grounds Limited, under freehold title number BGL79179 and BGL94927.

24.66 hectares (61.34%) of the course's area lie within the London Plan Policy H2 zone (ie. within 800m of a station or town centre, or with a PTAL of 3 or more).

If the area of this course within the policy H2 zone were released for housing at existing borough densities (around 19 homes per hectare), it might be possible accommodate around 468 homes.

However, with a more ambitious density target of 125% compared to prevailing densities, this could be increased to around 585 homes.

The current London Plan advocates densities of between 35 and 130 dwellings per hectare, depending on PTAL. Assuming an average density of 60 dph, the capacity of golf courses within the new London Plan policy H2 zone is around 1,480.

The entirety of this course's area lies within the green belt.

Woodford Golf Course

Woodford Golf Course is a publicly-owned golf course with 18 holes, and an area of 48.68 hectares.

The freehold is owned by City of London, under freehold title number AGL227257.

The entirety of this course's area lies within the green belt.