Bexley Council withdraws Golf Pod plan after resident noise complaints
Planning application for a practice facility at Crook Log Leisure Centre was pulled following objections from local residents, MP Louie French and Reform UK, with no explanation from the developer.
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Bexley Council confirmed on 29 July 2026 that the planning application to construct a Golf Pod practice facility on the green area west of the Crook Log Leisure Centre car park has been withdrawn. The decision removes the proposal from the council’s agenda and means no further planning scrutiny will occur until a new application is submitted, if any.
Planning process and deferral
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The proposal was first slated for discussion at a planning committee meeting in July 2026. Committee members asked for a site visit to a comparable facility, prompting a deferment to the meeting scheduled for 8 October 2026. Bexley planners had recommended approval at the July session despite objections from a handful of local residents.
Noise and light objections
Residents of South Gipsy Road and Park View Road submitted formal complaints, citing the prospect of repetitive golf‑ball strikes creating sharp, sudden sounds that could disturb homes and gardens. One resident, identified as having obsessive‑compulsive disorder, reported that such noise would exacerbate their condition. The same submission highlighted two children with disabilities who are sensitive to sound, arguing that the development could impair their wellbeing.
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Political pressure and complaint
Conservative MP Louie French, representing Old Bexley and Sidcup, wrote to the council stating that homes only 17 metres from the proposed site would have their lives blighted by the noise. Reform UK lodged a formal complaint, arguing that the planning documents failed to give a realistic picture of the facility’s noise and light emissions. The party also raised concerns about the proximity of the site to Aspire Academy Bexley, a specialist primary school for children with social, emotional and mental health needs, located less than 100 metres away.
Residents only 17 metres away would have their lives blighted by a repetitive golf‑ball strike noise.
Louie French, MP
Applicant’s silence and next steps
The developer has not provided a public statement explaining why the application was withdrawn. Bexley Council spokesperson said the withdrawal means there is no longer an application before the authority, and that the council will continue to assess any future proposals in line with legal and regulatory requirements. Residents and local groups are advised to monitor council notices for any new submissions concerning the site.
Questions this report answers
+Why was the Golf Pod planning application withdrawn?
Bexley Council announced the withdrawal after political pressure and resident complaints about noise and light impacts. The council noted that the applicant has not given a reason, so the decision reflects the council’s response to the concerns raised.
+What concerns did residents raise about the Golf Pod?
Residents on South Gipsy Road and Park View Road complained that repetitive golf‑ball strikes would generate sharp, intrusive noise and that additional lighting could affect nearby homes, particularly for a resident with obsessive‑compulsive disorder and two children with sound sensitivities.
+What will happen to the site now that the application is withdrawn?
With the application removed, the site remains unchanged. Bexley Council will treat any future proposals according to standard planning procedures, and the council will continue to evaluate any new submissions against legal and regulatory standards.
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