A Ryder Cup in Bolton just got one step closer

An artist's impression of how Hulton Park would look if it hosted the Ryder Cup.

Bolton’s hopes of bringing the 2031 Ryder Cup to England’s North West have been given a boost with approved plans for the Hulton Park Estate.

Earlier this year, Bolton’s hopes of hosting the 2031 Ryder Cup appeared to be dead in the water.

A new luxury golf resort, Hulton Park Estate, had been part of a $200m plan to restore a “historic and unseen part of the town’s heritage”, but Bolton Council rejected landowner Peel L&P’s revised and improved plans, seemingly creating a dead-end.

It was an unexpected blow, as previous proposals for the 800-acre site were approved by the Council in 2018 and the UK Secretary of State in 2020. But, despite being advised to approve the application by officers, Bolton Council’s Planning Committee turned down the revised plans in February.

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However, plans to put Bolton on the international sporting map by bringing The Ryder Cup to the town and restoring the historic Hulton Park Estate have now moved another step closer after the decision of a Public Inquiry was announced.

Independent Planning Inspector Dominic Young accepted Peel L&P’s case that its revised and improved plans for the Hulton Park Estate should not have been rejected by Bolton Council’s planning committee. The Inspector provided a quick decision following the Inquiry, keeping hopes alive of Bolton being able to host this major international event.

After receiving a wide range of support at the Public Inquiry from influential local and regional organisations including The University of Bolton and Bolton College, GreaterSport, CBI North West, Greater Manchester Chamber, Marketing Manchester, Bolton Wanderers FC – and from members of the Bolton community – Peel L&P is urging others to do the same to avoid a lost opportunity for future generations of Boltonians and the wider region. 

Welcoming the Inspector’s decision, Richard Knight, Director of Planning and Strategy at Peel L&P, said: “We put forward a robust and compelling case at the Public Inquiry and are pleased that the Inspector has recognised the long-term benefits a revitalised Hulton Park will bring to the economy of Bolton and the North West.

“This demonstrates that our plans are in the best interests of Bolton and local people and now is the time for Bolton to get behind the bid and support the development coming to the town to help secure a prosperous and exciting future for Bolton. We will continue to promote the unique offer Bolton and Hulton Park provides and looks forward to the continued support it has had to date.”

The decision concludes that very significant improvements have been made to the original scheme and confirms the very substantial social and economic benefits, as well as improvements, in terms of transport, heritage, ecology, green belt and sustainability together with weighty social and community benefits.

Alongside The London Club, Hulton Park, a grade II listed park and garden, is the only venue to be shortlisted by UK Sport and Ryder Cup Europe for an English bid for the event in 2031, which would be the first time the event has been held in the country since The Belfry hosted in 2002. Hulton Park will also bid for the 2035 event should the 2031 bid prove unsuccessful.

Peel L&P, a Manchester-based development giant, say the project would be a “game-changer for Bolton and Greater Manchester”, and would deliver around £250m of private sector investment, create more than 1,000 jobs, promote health and wellbeing, and boost local tourism and events.

Peel L&P’s revised plans provide greater community benefits and additional transport infrastructure and reduce the level of housebuilding within the Green Belt.  

After many years of decline, Hulton Park would be restored and opened-up for community access for the first time in its 700-year history, delivering 15km of new and improved public walking and cycling trails for families, residents and visitors to enjoy.

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The plans, which would also see 1,036 homes, a primary school, short-stay holiday accommodation, a hotel, conference centre, and a village hall built, rely on the town being successful in its bid to host Europe’s famous three-day match with the USA.

Developers have already drafted in designer Ross McMurray, who has worked on previous Ryder venues, Celtic Manor and Le Golf National, to draw up plans for an 18-hole championship course, with the view to accommodating up to 100,000 fans a day. They’ve even got ambitions of hosting future LET events and a Solheim Cup.

“We’ve said it before but this is a huge opportunity for Bolton,” said Knight. “The boost to the local economy, and the prosperity and wellbeing of local communities arising from such a project would be enormous. 

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“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. 

“By opening Hulton Park to the public for the first time in history, local people will benefit from vastly improved access to greenspace including new and improved public walking and cycling trails in the historic parkland. Our successful Hulton Park Happenings events this summer – and others taking place later this month – are demonstrating the Park’s potential to host a range of community events long into the future.

Host venues have already been announced for the next four Ryder Cup matches, with Marco Simone Golf and Country Club in Rome hosting Europe’s attempts to win back the trophy in 2023, before Bethpage Black welcomes the teams to New York in 2025.

JP McManus’ Adare Manor, recently named the world’s best resort by Condé Nast Traveller, will host the famous contest in County Limerick in 2027, before the sides return to 2016 host Hazeltine National Golf Club in Minnesota in 2029.

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