Leicester Country Club Proposed For 290 Homes

Plans call for trading golf greens for apartments, townhomes, and retail in multi-phase redevelopment.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 9:08pm

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A minimalist studio still life photograph featuring a polished, geometric model of a golf ball and golf club head floating on a clean white background, conceptually representing the transition from a former golf course to a new mixed-use development.As a former golf course makes way for new housing and retail, the iconic symbols of the sport take on a more abstract, conceptual meaning.Worcester Today

The former Leicester Country Club along Route 9 is slated for a major redevelopment, with a proposal to build around 290 homes including apartments, townhomes, and duplexes, plus a future commercial phase of up to 60,000 square feet of retail space. The multi-phase master plan is now under review by the local planning board, with neighbors and officials focused on traffic, wetlands, and the overall scale of the project.

Why it matters

This proposed redevelopment of the former golf course represents a significant shift in land use for the Leicester area, transitioning from recreational open space to a dense mixed-use residential and commercial development. It highlights the ongoing pressures of housing development and the tradeoffs between preserving green space versus adding new housing options near Worcester.

The details

The developer, 1430 Main Street LLC, is seeking special permits to build 98 single-family and townhome residences plus 192 apartment units, for a total of 290 homes. The project would be built out in phases, with the housing going in first and a future commercial phase of up to 60,000 square feet of retail space to follow. A traffic study estimates around 3,859 new weekday vehicle trips at full build-out and recommends access upgrades and possible signalization at the main driveway.

  • The property has operated as a golf facility for decades, with the public course shutting down in 2025 after being marketed for sale.
  • The proposal is now on the planning board's calendar and was listed for review on April 21, 2026.
  • The town has posted the March 17, 2026 site plans, drainage materials and peer review documents for public review.

The players

1430 Main Street LLC

The developer proposing the 290-home mixed-use redevelopment of the former Leicester Country Club site.

Town of Leicester

The local municipality where the former golf course is located and where the redevelopment proposal is under review by the planning board.

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What’s next

Expect a familiar routine of public hearings, peer reviews and conservation scrutiny before any building permits are handed out, with traffic mitigation and wetland protections likely to be front-and-center conditions.

The takeaway

This proposed redevelopment highlights the ongoing tension between housing needs and preserving open space, as a former golf course is slated to transition into a dense mixed-use community. The planning process will likely focus heavily on mitigating the project's impacts, particularly around traffic and environmental concerns, before any final approvals are granted.