The Hulton Park Development and the Ryder Cup Bid
A fortnight ago, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham announced a significant investment of £420m for various new developments and projects. This funding included support for a bid to host the largest ever Ryder Cup in Bolton. The latest ‘Good Growth’ spending package from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) featured plans for a £240m Hulton Park golf resort near Westhoughton, which could host the 2035 Ryder Cup.
Peel Land acquired the sprawling 608-acre parkland estate, once home to Hulton Hall and owned by the Hulton family, in 2010. The site has existing planning permission for the golf resort and over 1,000 new homes on mainly green belt land at the park. However, any development there depends on Bolton being awarded the Ryder Cup. If successful, the planned Hulton Park golf resort would host the biennial battle between the USA and Europe in 2035, with estimations that it could be worth as much as £1.2bn to the North West region’s economy.
Community Concerns and Opposition
Despite the potential economic benefits, many residents are frustrated and believe the Ryder Cup is a ‘white elephant’. They argue that the golf resort and associated housing schemes would strain the town’s services and lead to the loss of green space.
Sandra Hesketh, 78, lives on Manchester Road overlooking the Hulton estate. A giant orange sign opposing the estate’s development sits at the side of her front garden, visible to thousands of motorists passing on the A6. She was a founding member of Hulton Estate Area Residents Together (HEART) around 10 years ago.
She said: “I just think the Ryder Cup is a white elephant. They got that piece of land for a song and I believe they’re only interested in building executive houses – not affordable homes that people need in Bolton. They want to build on the fields and how did they persuade the council? They said, ‘let’s bring a big sporting event to Bolton’. I think it’s smoke and mirrors. There’s never been a Ryder Cup given to an unbuilt golf course. It would be a mammoth build in the time they have and don’t forget it’s a flood plain.”
Jackie Roberts, who lives near the centre of Westhoughton, also supports HEART. She believes the golf tournament is a ‘ruse’ to give a pathway to other development.
She said: “So it’s big news that Bolton is bidding for the Ryder Cup on green belt farmland in an area of Westhoughton and Atherton that is already swamped with new houses and traffic. This is what this bid is all about. I think Peel want to build more houses on that land and the Ryder Cup and the necessary golf course is the ruse. The local council turned down the planning and it was only granted on appeal, so where is the local democracy?”
Transport Funding and Infrastructure Projects
The ‘Good Growth’ funding also included £69.8m for the Park Avenue link road west of Bolton, the first phase of the wider 18-kilometre M61–M6 Northfold east-west link road from Bolton to Wigan. This project aims to cut congestion through Westhoughton and support the golf resort. The funding also includes active-travel routes and bus infrastructure to support major mixed-use development.
It is claimed that this section of road would ease persistent road congestion, particularly at the Chequerbent roundabout, close to the M61. The notoriously congested Chequerbent roundabout is a key concern for residents.
The associated Lee Hall development, which would mean Park Avenue would be built, consists of 1,450 homes. Peel Land said that project, for which planning permission is still pending, would lead to a major new park in Westhoughton, community facilities, a care home and school, plus allotments.
GMCA said the latest road investment would ‘unlock’ 4,000 new homes, 25,000 sqm of employment space and 1,250 full-time equivalent jobs.
Mark Phillipson, 55, from nearby Atherton, was in the area working. He said: “It’s difficult. I’m not against investment in roads and new homes, creating growth as such, but what is key is the sequencing. I think it’s essential that the infrastructure – schools, health centres, nurseries and sports facilities – come before the houses. Otherwise things get much worse before they get better.”
Local Reactions and Future Plans
Bolton council leader Nick Peel said: “This major investment in the Park Avenue link road will not only ease that congestion but also unlock growth and create jobs at this key strategic location. Greater Manchester’s backing for our Ryder Cup bid at nearby Hulton Park is further evidence of Bolton’s growing reputation as a host of world-class events.”
However, Westhoughton resident John Roberts said the link road was already needed, before any additional homes were built. He said: “The new link road in itself is probably a desirable thing but it depends on the route and what it affects. Westhoughton is rammed with traffic now. The road is needed now, irrespective of any more housing.”
Response from Peel Land
This week, Peel Land responded to the ‘Good Growth’ announcement on road investment. Stephen Wild, managing director at Peel Land Group, said: “The much-welcomed funding announcement for the Park Avenue link road is crucial in addressing the long-term issue of congestion in the area for local communities. It’s also pivotal to unlocking ambitions for the Northfold growth corridor, including the Hulton Park Ryder Cup opportunity, alongside the Lee Hall project, where we can potentially deliver 1,400 much-needed homes as well as new employment space and community infrastructure.”
Speaking last month, Andy Burnham said: “We’ve had promising conversations with organisers about bringing the tournament to a bespoke, world-class course at Hulton Park. But it will only be possible with the right infrastructure. We’re doing our bit to make it happen. We’re committing up to £70 million to deliver a transport package to not only help spectators get to the site but deliver major benefits for the people living in the surrounding areas. As well as the new jobs and tourist spend the Ryder Cup would deliver, there’s also a chance to deliver a lasting legacy. We want to work with Government to align transport investment to the tournament – delivering more frequent and modern trains on the Atherton line, investing in better rail stations and speeding up work to connect the area to the Metrolink network.”
