Members’ Open Forum – Tuesday 10th September 2024

Bar and Terrace Project Update

Approximately 100 people attended the recent Members’ Forum and after the Chair Michael Hill’s introductory remarks Andrew Walker (House Committee Chair) gave a 30-minute presentation on the proposed Bar and Terrace design supported by the designers from Design LSM.
See below for links to the slides and videos that were used.

Marc Newey (CEO) then gave a short update on the progress of the new Padel and Pickleball Working Group and the Planners’ reaction to the Indoor Golf Centre. We then opened up a general Q&A session resulting in several good ideas that we will now reflect on.

The Chair highlighted that the Club is in remarkably good shape, with a strong waiting list, no current net debt, and that we have a good foundation to make future investments. The Board also recognises the proposed development projects represent a significant investment for the Club, and it is important they are phased and de-risked as much as possible. We have learnt that digging down into our property and working on the Clubhouse will bring surprises that we cannot eliminate, even with surveys and forward planning. We will also have to marry these investments into the economic capability of the Club through yearly cycles – this Board will not take excessive risk re the financial viability of the Club. We will present our thinking around this, but we do not expect to run large projects concurrently and we will limit the periods of overlap.

Bar and Terrace Schematics and 3D Video

We aim to transform the appeal of the Club’s social areas in Q1 2025.  Design LSM has been working closely with the House Committee on the new designs which can be seen in the Reading Room. We will need planning approval for the wrap around decking as well as a retractable roof for the terrace overlooking the gardens. If we secure approval, we will look to start work on the Terrace in November and the Bar and Social areas from next January to open from May 2025. Given the need for support foundations for the decking, and to upgrade our facilities infrastructure we have taken advice from structural engineers on how to cantilever the new decking to oversee tennis courts 15-18 and benefit from the west facing aspect for the sunny summer evenings.

Downloads

Presentation to Members by Andrew Walker, Chair of the House Committee – ideas and plans for Clubhouse function rooms and Indoor Golf Centre (IGC)

Presentation on Clubhouse bar and function spaces by Design LSM

Mood boards to show design and decor ideas for Clubhouse function spaces

Fly through videos:

Function Rooms with Doors Closed

Bar Lounge and Terrace

Function Rooms with Doors Open

Thank you to the Project Committee

I want to thank the people who have contributed a significant amount of time on this project.  This idea only started in summer of 2023 and has required numerous iterations and refinements to get it to its current quality. We are very lucky to have so many accomplished people who are prepared to give back to the Club, that is a tremendous asset for us all and something we should not take for granted.

Padel and Pickleball Hub Working Group

As mentioned at the AGM a working group has been set up to discuss where best to place a Padel and Pickleball Hub following the feedback from Wandsworth Council on our suggested scheme for Courts 25-28. Representatives from different section committees have been invited to join the group.

Click here to read the minutes from their first meeting

Minutes from the 18th September 2024 meeting

We have discussed a variety of alternative options for the location of a Padel Hub and separate Pickleball Hub with the Planning Officer as requested. The working group met on 18th September, and the minutes of this meeting will be published soon.

This project is not currently due to start until late 2025 so we still have lots of time to listen to Member views. The topic of grass courts is always going to create a diverse range of opinions within the tennis section and we will conduct a Member Survey on this topic when we have more knowledge on what is feasible from a planning perspective.

Indoor Golf Centre (IGC) and SGPA

We have completed the pre-app phase discussions with Wandsworth Council Planners and have submitted a formal application.  We hope to have satisfied the new BREEAM and Biodiversity net gain (BNG) regulations and if we receive planning approval we will go out for formal tenders. If we are successful, and the tenders are consistent with our estimates, the current expectation is that we would break ground post the completion of the Bar and Terrace project in 2025.

Several Members commented on the level of investment and the merits. Without repeating the debate re the pros and cons of indoor golf, the Board and Golf Committee still need to evaluate what form of planning approval we receive, and then go out to tender.

Like the grass tennis courts conversion, it is recognised that this project generates a range of perspectives, and the Board has committed to come back to membership to present the final plans (including potential options), tender costs and will do a survey of the membership ahead of any final Board decision.

Thank you to all who came to the Forum and the constructive views expressed.

Michael Hill

Chair of the Board of Directors

Chair@roehamptonclub.co.uk