Bolton Council Rejects Houlton Park Golf Course Development Plans

Bolton Council has rejected plans for a £414m scheme which aimed to bring the 2031 Ryder Cup to Bolton. Developers Peel hoped a "championship-grade" course on the Hulton Park site would secure the prestigious tournament.

England has hosted 15 of the 21 Ryder Cups. The last English course to stage the tournament was the Belfry in Warwickshire in 2002.

Councillors voted to reject the proposals because of the impact on green belt land.

The developer had hoped to build a luxury course which hoped to accommodate 70,000 spectators on the Georgian Hulton Park site in Westhoughton.  Also proposed in the development was 1,036 new homes, a primary school, short stay holiday accommodation, a hotel, conference centre and a village hall.

 
Peel's Richard Knight said Bolton had "quite possibly missed out on the biggest investment in its history".

 
Dozens of objections were received by the council, many expressing concern at the loss of green belt land and traffic and road issues.

All but one councillor voted to reject the plans.

Committee chairman John Walsh cited the impact on the green belt land and congestion concerns as the reason for the refusal, while Councillor Christopher Hill added that "money and property does not outweigh nature".

 
Peel has a right to appeal the decision, which could lead to a public inquiry and the final say on the project being left to the secretary of state.

However, a decision on the host for the 2031 Ryder Cup is expected in July.