RIP Gonville Bowling Club

You are looking at a bowling club in its very death throes.  Gonville Bowling Club in Thornton Heath is on the market with a guide price of £1.5 million, and auctioneers Bernard Marcus, from whose auction catalogue this description is lifted, will be selling it to the highest bidder on 6th February 2024

This is such a sad moment in bowling history that it is worth recording. Here is the complete listing from the auction catalogue. May it serve as an In Memoriam now that the clubhouse, its history and its honours boards are to be smashed in burned and lost for ever.

Unique Freehold Development Opportunity (stpp),
No Previous Planning History,
Vacant 12 Months Following Completion.

Location:
Gonville Bowling Club lies within the heart of this residential area of Thornton Heath and on the south side of Trafford Road which links through to the A23 Thornton Road via Silverleigh Road. There is a good range of local facilities immediately available within Thornton Road whilst more comprehensive shopping and recreational facilities are within the centre of Thornton Heath with the retail parks such as Valley Park off Purley Way with outlets such as Ikea located circa 1.5 miles to the south. Along with good road links especially provided by the A23, the location benefits from good public transport links including local bus services whilst Thornton Hath Rail Station is 1 mile to the east and provides a direct link to London Victoria with a journey time of less than 30 minutes.

Description: Gonville Road Bowling Club will be sold on the basis that the club will hold a license to occupy for a period of up to 12 months from completion following which, the site will be vacant. The total site area extends to 0.54 acre with the majority of this being vacant and utilised as the bowling green. There are a number of temporary buildings within the site such as storage sheds etc however, part of the land is occupied by the club house/ hall together with kitchen and internal storage areas. These more permanent structures are rated for commercial purposes and total some 137.9 sq m (1,474 sq ft)

Potential: This is a rare opportunity to acquire such a large site within a Greater London postcode area and offers significant potential for a range of opportunities. The auctioneers have researched the planning portals and it appears the site has no planning history having been in its current use for many years but now, with little or no demand for the current facilities. Whilst strictly to be sold on an unconditional basis it is expected that prospective purchasers will wish to consider a range of development opportunities but strictly must rely on their own enquiries in this respect. It is thought that such development could be either for residential, commercial or a mix of both with other considerations perhaps for nursing/ retirement housing or similar. A range of computer generated images are provided solely for prospective buyers to see how such developments could fit within the vernacular of this location and any development will of course be subject to first obtaining all necessary consents.

Total Site Area: 0.54 Acres

Total Built Area: 137.9 sq m (1,474 sq ft)

Possession:
The bowling club are to be granted a 12 month license to occupy the property from completion following which the site will be vacant. This allows a buyer to know the site is secure and occupied whilst they work up their development scheme and apply for planning permission following purchase.