Forget Birdies and Eagles, this County Durham golf club is all about newts after receiving planning approval to install three ponds to protect the local Great Crested Newt population.

Crook Golf Club in Low Jobs Hill is set to create ponds in unused areas of the 18-hole course as part of a conservation initiative under the District Level Licensing (DLL) scheme.

Two ponds will be built on rough grassland near the fairways, while the third will be in a natural clearing surrounded by trees and all will naturally fill with rainwater, eliminating the need for an external water source.

Original plans proposed four ponds, but one was removed due to concerns about interfering with a public right of way.

The golf course’s landscape team determined that the construction of the ponds would not disrupt the visual appeal or character of the area.

Proposals align with multiple County Durham Plan policies, which advocate for high design standards and minimal environmental disruption.

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Development is also backed by policies focused on enhancing biodiversity, as the ponds are specifically designed to support the Great Crested Newts, a protected species.

The public, along with the 61 neighbouring consultees, did not raise any objections.

Key consultees, including the Landscape, Ecology, and Public Rights of Way teams, endorsed the revised plans.

The Coal Authority confirmed that a Coal Mining Risk Assessment was unnecessary for this type of development.

Environmental and safety considerations were also addressed, with the site falling into Flood Zone 1, indicating minimal flood risk.

Planning permission was granted on October 22, 2024, with conditions for commencing the development within three years and adhering to the approved plans.

These include the construction of ponds with a maximum depth of 1.5 metres to create an ideal habitat for the newts.