Why Protect Rookwood?

Why Sell Rookwood for Half Price?

When HDC acquired the land in 1986, they entered into a 80 year legal agreement with the vendors. This means that any sale of the land before 2066 requires 50% of the value of the sale to be paid to the original owners, the Lucas Trust.

Why would HDC dispose of this valuable asset at 50% of its actual value when:

  • Rookwood is already revenue positive for HDC to the tune of £50k per annum

  • The golf course is well used with almost 40,000 rounds of golf played in 2020 (despite 17 weeks of closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic)

  • Holding onto Rookwood until 2066 would realise twice the capital gain of any sale before that date

  • Residents of Horsham District would be financially disadvantaged if HDC dispose of this asset before 2066

  • HDC has large financial reserves for use in difficult times (£15.7m at 31 March 2020)

  • Rookwood only contributes between 3% and 4% of the total Local Plan requirements

Why does HDC continue to state that Rookwood is not revenue positive, when their ledger says otherwise?