Tennis club over 100-years-old could be replaced by housing

A century-old tennis club in Ashton could soon be demolished and replaced with housing.

Rosehill Tennis Club has been a mainstay on Gorsey Lane since it was first built in 1923, but dwindling membership numbers and the facilities being in a poor state led to the club making the tough decision to permanently close last year.

The clubhouse suffered serious damage due to vandalism and, with the tennis courts labelled a safety risk, the club has not been operational since 2023.

Now the club has tabled plans to bulldoze the two hard courts and clubhouse, replacing them with four new houses. The new semi-detached properties would have three bedrooms with two off-street car parking spaces and good-sized gardens, according to plans submitted to Tameside Council.

Planning papers read: “It was a thriving club for over 80 years, from its inception in 1923. Even though it is only one of two clubs in Tameside, the number of members has decreased over the last 20 years, and it has been a struggle to keep the club open.

“The clubhouse is now at the end of its life. As a wooden building, it has long outlived the 25 year life span it was given when purchased. 

“It has been kept going by a small number of members who have contributed to its upkeep and maintenance, but it is now past the point of no return.

“In 2023 it suffered significant damage from a pipe burst, and this, together with a hole in the back wall and rotted window frames, put the clubhouse out of use on health and safety grounds. Ivy has crept through various gaps and crevices, into the ladies’ toilets and changing rooms. 

“In December 2024, all the windows were smashed by vandals and the decision was taken to board them up.

“The cost of a new clubhouse would be at least £30,000, and even going for a much smaller structure to provide basic facilities of toilets and storage, we estimate the cost to be £20,000.”

The club believes using the land to provide ‘four much needed, new, energy efficient, family homes’ is the best way forward.

The application is only for outline permission, meaning further planning permission would be needed before any building work could start.