BEDFORD COUNTY, Va. (WDBJ) – Bedford County is moving forward with a new phase of development at the New London Business & Technology Center, a project that is raising concerns about its impact on one of the county’s most popular disc golf courses.
The New London Business & Technology Center has long been a vital location for both business and recreation, and in recent years, it has become a favorite spot for disc golf enthusiasts due to its well-regarded course. However, a new $1.5 million state grant is set to drive an expansion that will bring significant changes to the area.
“Phase 2 has been planned for many years to expand the business-ready sites at New London,” said Robert Hiss, Bedford County Administrator. “This includes grading and clearing two lots for future development, as well as extending the road and installing utilities to the prepared lots.”
The funding, provided by Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Virginia Business Ready Sites Program (VBRSP), will be used to prepare additional land for industrial use, with the goal of attracting new businesses and creating jobs in Bedford County.
But what does this mean for the beloved disc golf course? Hiss confirmed that the course won’t be eliminated, but it will be relocated.
“The course won’t be eliminated,” said Hiss. “It will be moved to other utility easements, or there’s a 30-35 acre section of the property where new holes will likely be developed.”
The county has been planning this phase of development for years, well before the disc golf course was established, with the intention of expanding business-ready sites to draw new industries. As part of this expansion, six or seven holes of the New London Tech Disc Golf Course will be relocated to accommodate the new industrial lots.
“With this investment, we don’t want to lose the course; we want to maintain its professional quality,” Hiss emphasized. “We’ve invested time, money, and effort into this, so ensuring its continuation is important to us.”
The aim is to have the land ready for construction and available for businesses by the end of 2025, with work expected to begin early next year.
