Wirral Council in England says it has received a positive response to a call for potential developers to create a new golf resort close to the historic Royal Liverpool Golf Club, which will host next year’s Open Championship.

The council’s timetable for the procurement process calls for a shortlist of potential developers to be compiled in December, ahead of a negotiation process lasting several months and an announcement of a preferred bidder next summer.

Council leader Phil Davies said: “It is a complicated process and we are working to a tight schedule but I hope to be able to announce our chosen partner when Wirral hosts the Open at Royal Liverpool next July. We are confident that with a suitable development partner in place we can deliver a top class golf resort that will build on the confidence generated by hosting such prestigious championships as the Open, as well as Hoylake’s unique golfing pedigree.”

Land planning consultancy AECOM is leading the council’s advisory team. The proposed resort would be built on a 300 acre site not far from the Royal Liverpool club, but the land is not believed to have links characteristics.