One of Britain’s most famous links has been granted planning permission for a new irrigation reservoir.

After a planning process that lasted more that four and a half years, Saunton Golf Club has won permission to construct a 5,000 cu m borehole-fed reservoir. Consulting engineers Irriplan have worked with Saunton through the planning process to deal with the hydrogeological and ecological issues that had to be solved before permission was granted.

“Facing the Atlantic breakers in north-west Devon, the club’s two courses, constructed on an internationally significant sand-dune system, are in desperate need of a permanent solution to a chronic water shortage, a solution that would suit the needs of the environment as well as the needs of the club,” said Irriplan’s Marcus White. “Phase one involved the construction of a super-efficient irrigation system, designed by Irriplan engineers, in 2008. Phase two will see the construction next year of the Irriplan-designed storage reservoir, a design sympathetic with the status of the site as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and of pan-European dune-habitat importance.”