Plans for a £414 million scheme to build a course for one of golf’s most prestigious events in Bolton have been rejected.
The plans – which were drawn up in current form by developers Peel L&P back in 2018, but have been in the works for longer and have been the subject of much local controversy ever since – proposed that a “championship-grade” golf course would be built on the historic Hulton Park site to become a host destination for 2031 Ryder Cup.
As well as the golf course, the wider Hulton Park development looked to become a community hub and was proposed to include a total of 1,036 homes, a primary school, short stay holiday accommodation, a hotel, conference centre, and a village hall.
But all except once Councillor voted against the plans yesterday.
Bolton Council were said to have refused plans for the development expressing concerns around the environment, the impact on green belt land, congestion, and the quality of jobs in the area, while opposition campaigners called it a “housing project in golf clothing”.
Peel L&P’s revised plans to restore and redevelop Hulton Park into a sport & healthy living destination were today refused by Bolton Council’s Planning Committee, going against a Secretary of State approval of a prior, less beneficial scheme for the area.https://t.co/wtrJy2Xf6Wpic.twitter.com/6NxGuJ5RxC
Dozens of objections were received by the Council since the plans were first submitted.
Over the course of the three hour meeting yesterday, the committee heard from both supporters and opponents of the plan.
“The golf course devastates a large area of land and brings a thousands plus house and some of the issues if they’re not dealt with at planning level brings more problems to us as Westhoughton people,” said Cllr David Wilkinson, who represents Westhoughton South.
“I’m sorry it’s a vanity project,” he added.
Independent Cllr Martin McMulkin said the plan “is not going to address the levels of deprivation in that part of the borough”, and added that golf is “not and never will be a sport of the working class.”
Plans to build a course for one of golf’s most prestigious events in Bolton have been rejected / Credit: Peel L&P
Cllr Martyn Cox – Leader of Bolton Council – said the plans would “too impactful” on greenspace, while Labour leader Nick Peel said that the council’s lack of “corporate” support for a Ryder Cup bid also undermined the proposal.
Local campaigners against the plans – which notably included Westhoughton-born actress Maxine Peake – also told the planning committee meeting the development would cause significant environmental damage, with protester Phil Wood claiming once the Ryder Cup was over, the developer would build more houses on the land.
Historian Elaine Taylor too urging councillors to preserve the Grade II-listed Georgian park and its surrounding landscape.
On the flip side, speaking in favour of the development, CBI North West’s Damian Waters said it represented a “once-in a generation opportunity to transform the Bolton economy”, and the University of Bolton’s president Prof George Holmes said it would bring “prosperity to the town and much-needed national and international attention”.
The planning committee also heard from former Ladies European Tour golfer Sophie Walker, who said watching the Ryder Cup in Paris had been the “best sporting experience” of her life, and bringing it to Bolton would “inspire” people to play golf.
All except once Councillor voted against the plans yesterday / Credit: Peel L&P
Following the rejection of the proposals, Richard Knight – Director of Planning and Strategy at Peel L&P – said Bolton has “quite possibly missed out on the biggest investment in its history”.
He continued: “Bolton Council had approved the previous scheme and encouraged us to make positive changes, but it has done a U-turn at the last hurdle [and] it is hard to comprehend.
“Evidently, very localised opposition has taken priority over 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 greenbelt land and a range of facilities including a new school, health and wellbeing hub public trails and transport improvements.”
Peel L&P now has a right to appeal the decision.
The developer’s appealing of the decision could lead to a public inquiry, with 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.
Featured Image – Peel L&P
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There’s a World Gravy Wrestling Championship near Greater Manchester
Thomas Melia
Just on the outskirts of Greater Manchester, there’s a country pub set in a rural village that hosts a world gravy wrestling championship.
Leave it to us northerners to organise a world gravy wrestling championship because let’s face it, there’s nothing more northern than plummeting yourself into bucket loads of gravy.
At The Rose ‘N’ Bowl in the village of Stacksteads, it’s not just their meals they’re drenching in the brown nectar; they drench any willing guest in this beige saucy goodness too as part of the World Gravy Wrestling Championships.
Here’s a little taster from nearly a decade ago.
Participants are expected to wrestle in the gravy for two minutes, with the winner being judged not only on their play-fighting skills but also on their choice of fancy dress, comedy effect and entertainment.
Past wrestlers have rocked up as zebras, racehorse jockeys and famous TV characters like Ali G and Mickey Mouse.
Each wrestler is encouraged to raise money on behalf of a charity of their choice, but if you don’t have one, donations will be sent to East Lancashire Hospice, which has helped people countywide suffering from life-limiting illness for the past 30 years.
The World Gravy Wrestling Championships have been held outside this very pub for over a decade, with the first ever event taking place at a car park in Wigan before it found a permanent home outside The Rose ‘N’ Bowl.
And if swimming in a pool of gravy isn’t for you, don’t fret because there’s a handful of sauce-free activities you can get involved with spread throughout the pub’s car park.
Fret not, past events have included bouncy castles, cheerleading performances, craft beer stalls, cake and tombola stands and even a BB gun shooting range that are all completely gravy-free.
There will even be help from a local fire brigade who will be on hand to wash down wrestlers in between their gravy-filled tournament, so they can wander round all the stalls too.
The 2025 World Gravy Wrestling Championships are coming to The Rose ‘N’ Bowl in Stacksteads on 25 August, with tickets available in person only, but plenty of information about the event HERE.
If you’re after signing up to be one of the wrestlers at this event, applications are still open and you can get stuck in with all the details you need HERE.
And if that wasn’t enough Northern food competitive action, we’ll catch you at the World Black Pudding Hurling Championships, innabit.
Inside this Victorian mansion with 10 bedrooms, a swimming pool and more near Greater Manchester
Thomas Melia
There’s a million-pound Victorian-style mansion that has 10 bedrooms and its own personal swimming pool just outside of Greater Manchester.
Just like the childhood nursery rhyme, “There were three in the bed and the little one said… there’s another seven beds, roll over!” or at least that’s how they remember it in this character property.
Located in Warrington, less than an hour away from Manchester city centre, this property is a semi-detached Victorian property built in 1860, with 10 bedrooms and its own private swimming pool, all spread across four floors.
As soon as you enter the foyer, your eyes are drawn to the sleek silver chandelier before you notice the grand staircase, which feels like a piece of living history.
Inside this Victorian mansion with 10 bedrooms and a swimming pool near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market)
The ground floor hosts two of a whopping 10 bedrooms alongside a teal-toned farmhouse-style kitchen and that extremely impressive swimming pool with its own built-in projector.
In the kitchen, the focal point is the large wrap-around kitchen unit, which is accompanied by a variety of hanging lights and a big central island.
On the way to the swimming pool, there are a handful of lockers identical to those found in a leisure and as you enter the room, your eyes are drawn to the island-inspired feature wall.
Venture upstairs to the first floor and you’re greeted by five spacious bedrooms with one having its own en-suite while the rest share a main bathroom.
Each of these bedrooms follows a completely different design style, with the largest following a muted grey palette with pops of yellow thanks to the artwork and bed accessories.
The grand staircase and one of ten bedrooms inside this Victorian mansion near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market
As you go upstairs again, you’ll find (you guessed it) even more bedrooms, three to be exact, with the standout
The stand-out of this second floor is the navy-walled bedroom with a vintage vanity unit, patterned floor-to-ceiling curtains and a similarly dark-blue rug to match its four walls.
Another flight of stairs and you’ve finally reached the top of this property, and there’s an LED-lined ceiling and a neutral bedroom colour scheme of greys, whites and everything in between.
There are various amenities nearby, including three schools and three train stations… for if you get fed up of strolling around your four-floored ten-bed, swimming pool-owning mansion.
Two contrasting bedrooms found within this Victorian mansion near Greater Manchester / Credit: On The Market
We know this property may not be in the price range and might not be affordable for a lot of readers, ourselves included, but we can dream, right?
You can check out this Victorian mansion and flick through even more pictures of this property – Snooping never hurt anybody? Official site HERE.
As always, make sure to check out The Manc‘s property page to check all the other stunning structures currently on sale/in progress across Greater Manchester and in the nearby North West.
Emily Sergeant -
25th February 2022 
