A STUD farm would replace a former driving range if a plan is given the go-ahead outside Oxford.

The Heathfield Park Golf Range, near Kidlington, was closed at Christmas 2017 after making ‘substantial losses’ in the four years it operated.

Its owners now want to use it as the farm, which would include 19 stables, a tack room and home for staff.

They say the development would be a ‘viable’ project, that it would look better than the current site and would be better for the environment.

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In documents submitted to Cherwell District Council, the owners state: "The business is closed despite there being high hopes when permission was granted, that the golfing world as a whole was ‘on the up’ but participation in golf is now in serious decline.

“For reasons beyond the applicant’s control, the number of customers has never been many, but has reduced to such a worrying level, that the golf driving range never was viable. There seems no likelihood this situation will improve within the foreseeable future.”

The development will be decided by Cherwell Council at a later date.

Other businesses, including the Oxfordshire Inn Hotel, closed near the golf range and accelerated its decline, papers submitted to the authority state. A planned camp site nearby has not been built.