Public inquiry held into rejected Ryder Cup venue

Hulton Park in Bolton was the subject of ambitious plans to bring the biennial clash to the north-west of England.

Councillors threw out proposals for the championship golf course, primary school and 1,000 homes against the advice of local authority officials in February.

At the time, developer Peel L&P warned the town had missed out on “possibly the biggest investment in its history”.

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“We’ve said it before but this is a huge opportunity for Bolton,” said Richard Knight, Peel’s director of planning and strategy, ahead of the inquiry.

“The boost to the local economy, and the prosperity and wellbeing of local communities arising from such a project would be enormous.

“Bringing the Ryder Cup – one of world’s premier sporting events – to Bolton would be an Olympic moment for the town, but our proposals are about so much more. There would be regular golf events but also a venue for conferencing, staycations, days out – all of which would help regenerate the area. The plans include new facilities and infrastructure for the community, and much-needed new homes with a reduced impact on the Green Belt than our previously approved plans.

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