Bolton rejects Peel’s £240m plans for Hulton Park redevelopment

Bolton’s planning committee has refused permission for Peel L&P’s revised £240m plans for Hulton Park, which the developer claimed could have delivered more than 1,000 jobs and £1.6bn in socio-economic benefits for the region.

They cited the impact on the Green Belt, but Peel bosses said their decision means “Bolton has quite possibly missed out on the biggest investment in its history”.

Peel wanted to redevelop the 882-acre site into a sport and healthy living destination, with plans to bid to host the Ryder Cup golfing tournament in either 2031 or 2035. The scheme was one of two venues shortlisted to host the global sporting extravaganza.

An earlier version of the scheme had been approved by the council and the secretary of state in 2020, but yesterday’s (February 24) planning committee delivered a U-turn, with all but one councillor voting the revised plans down, despite planning officers recommending approval.

Peel said its proposals would have opened up the park to the public for the first time in its 700-year history and created housing as well as a new school, health and wellbeing hub, village hall, allotments and around 15km of new cycleways and footpaths through the site.

Only 20% of the site would have been built on.

The developer also planned to deliver part of a new link road between Bolton and Wigan to help improve local transport.

Speaking after the committee’s decision, Richard Knight, director of planning and strategy at Peel L&P said: “The vision for Hulton Park goes beyond sport and housing, it’s about creating a lasting legacy that will spark excitement, aspirations, new opportunities and improve people’s health and wellbeing.

“We’re disappointed by this outcome. Bolton has quite possibly missed out on the biggest investment in its history.

“Bolton Council had approved the previous scheme and encouraged us to make positive changes. It has done a U-turn at the last hurdle.”

He added: “It is hard to comprehend, but evidently very localised opposition has taken priority over all of the potential benefits for Bolton.

“Since 2018, we have worked hard with local residents and stakeholders in order to adapt our proposals to reflect the community’s aspirations for the site with less homes on Green Belt land and a range of facilities including a new school, health and wellbeing hub public trails and transport improvements.

“We will now take the time to reflect on the decision and liaise with our partners to consider if there is any way the project can still be brought forward, or whether we now need to consider if there are alternative opportunities for restoring and bringing new life to Hulton Park.”

Having been approved by the Secretary of State in 2020, this latest planning application looked to revise the proposals with important changes made as a result of community feedback, focusing in particular on sustainability, inclusivity and accessibility as well as delivering even more community facilities for the local community.

In recommending approval for the scheme, the council’s planning officers said: “The cumulative benefits that would arise because of the development would clearly and significantly outweigh all harm identified and that the proposals would have a positive and transformational effect on Bolton and the wider Greater Manchester region, and it is a genuinely unique opportunity to secure long lasting and wide ranging benefits.”

The application had received support from a number of prominent organisations including The University of Bolton, GreaterSport and the Confederation of British Industry North West (CBI), the Greater Manchester Chamber and Marketing Manchester.

Prior to the committee considering the application, Peel L&P’s executive director, James Whittaker, addressed councillors, saying: “This is a huge moment. With your consent, Bolton can become home to Europe’s biggest and best golf destination, and host to one of the world’s greatest sporting events.

“These proposals will give a huge boost to Bolton’s prosperity and civic pride, creating a lasting legacy of sport, health, tourism, heritage and skills.

“The legacy of your decision today, beyond the overwhelming benefits in terms of historic restoration, local infrastructure and community facilities, would be to improve the lives of generations of Boltonians for the better. This decision is not about Peel and not about politics, and it is not just about golf and The Ryder Cup. It is about the future of Bolton.”