17/03/2025: Council puts profits to good use after selling golf club

Breckland Council has completed the sale of Barnham Broom Hotel, Spa & Golf Club and has already put the funding raised to good use for the people of Breckland.

The district council bought the land and buildings at the 257-acre site for £7m in 2006. It has now sold the site for £6.9m.

The council's total income (sale and rent) from its 19-year ownership of the hotel and golf club site was £11.68m. During this time, the council made a further investment of £1.95m in the asset.

This means the overall profit made by the council is £2.73m and the acquisition was a strong commercial investment.

The site has been bought by the owner-operator of the golf club and hotel business who, until now, had leased the land and buildings from the council.

In anticipation of the Barnham Broom sale, Breckland has already used the capital funding to directly support local people; it has used some of the money to purchase new temporary housing in the district to support those in housing crisis.

Breckland Council originally purchased the site as part of a multi-million-pound investment portfolio, which also includes offices, warehouses, shop buildings and other assets. Money received in rent from the council's diversified property portfolio - including rent received from the council's ownership of the Barnham Broom site - has been used to keep financial pressure off local taxpayers, enabling the local authority to help provide services to Breckland residents, including support for those most in need.

Cllr Sam Chapman-Allen, Breckland Council's Leader, commented: "The figures show just what a good investment the golf club has been for this council and our residents. The steady stream of reliable income over nearly 20-years has played a big factor in helping Breckland maintain a good financial position compared to our peers and has enabled us to keep the pressure off local taxpayers as much as possible.

"The rent brought in by this and our other investments has played an important role in enabling us to go above and beyond in the services we provide. This includes, for example, helping to fund our Inspiring Communities programme, which has provided important support for people up and down our district who are facing isolation, loneliness, struggles with mental health, poverty and domestic abuse.

"We're now further putting the money from the capital sale to very good use, by investing into temporary accommodation which will bolster this important resource and help meet the unprecedented demand, so everybody in Breckland has a safe place to call home."

Colin Bothway, the original founder and owner of Barnham Broom Hotel and Golf Club, commented: "I'd like to thank the council for being steadfast in its commitment to maintain our landlord and tenant relationship over a long period. I am also grateful for the council's confidentiality during the lengthy due diligence and negotiation period. I'm delighted that we have now bought back the freehold and can recombine this with our operating business. This strengthens our position to consider how we might evolve and grow further in the future for the benefit of our local communities, our golf and health club members, visitors and hotel guests, as well as our loyal staff and hard-working employees." 

Cllr Paul Hewett, Executive Member for Property, Projects and Procurement, added: "Some people in the past have wanted to scrutinise the details of any proposed arrangements and check how public money is being used, and we completely understand this. However, to get the best possible deal and avoid potentially damaging a local business and employer, it has been important to maintain commercial confidentiality during this long process.

"That requirement has unfortunately led to inaccurate speculation and misinformation being spread about this investment. Now that the deal has completed, we are pleased to be able to set the record straight and give confidence to our residents that the investment we made on their behalf has generated considerable income over a number of years which has benefited local people."