The £240M Hulton Park scheme was approved by government inspectors back in 2022, overruling Bolton Council, on the condition that the venue be chosen to host the Ryder Cup.

But the scheme was again brought before council planning bosses today after Developers Peel L&P applied to start work on a small strip of land before a venue for the tournament is chosen.

Committee chair Cllr John Walsh said: “We are dealing only, I repeat it for clarity, we are dealing only with one variation to the 106 agreement.”

The completed Hulton Park development is set to include 18-hole championship golf course with 1,036 houses at Over Hulton.

The scheme also includes more than 1,000 houses (Image: Peel L&P) Government inspectors decided to approve the plan after a two-day public inquiry, overruling Bolton Council’s decision to refuse the plans.

But this had included a “106 agreement” referred to by Cllr Walsh which said permission depended on Hulton Park being chosen to host the Ryder Cup in 2031 or 2035.

Peel had applied to change this condition to start work on a six by 2.2M strip of land by October this year to prevent the planning permission from expiring.

Cllr Fazeelah Khan, of the Hulton ward, called on the committee members to reject the bid.

She said: “This is not just a formal agreement between the council and the applicant, it is a safeguard for the greenbelt in Over Hulton.”

She added: “Without that guarantee the justification goes.”

Cllr Khan said rejecting the bid would show the council’s commitment to the greenbelt and the integrity of its agreements.

Alan Dean stepped up to put residents’ objections across saying that he believed the 106 agreements was intended to be legally binding.

But Peel L&P director of strategy and planning Richard Knight said that the project was now “embedded” in Bolton’s plans and could create new jobs and opportunities for young people.

The bid depends on hosting the Ryder Cup He said planning permission expiring in October this year meant they had to act “urgently” given a decision on hosting the Ryder Cup was not expected until next year “at the earliest.”

Mr Knight said starting work on the small strip of land was intended to be a method of “preserving” planning permission rather than starting again from the beginning.

Cllr Walsh, of Astley Bridge, told the committee that allowing work on this strip of land did not mean work could start on any other part of land until the Ryder Cup was awarded.

He said the fact the scheme included the bypass between Wigan and Westhoughton and the fact it was submitted before new housing targets were brought in were “pretty powerful arguments.”

Committee deputy chair Cllr Rob Morrissey, of Breightmet, said the developers would have to come back to town hall before they could alter the agreement any further.

He said the development was a key step to Bolton hosting the Ryder Cup, an “internationally acclaimed golf tournament.”

A document put before the council said that delays meant hosting the tournament in 2031 would not be feasible, meaning it would instead focus on 2035. 

Cllr David Grant, of Horwich South and Blackrod, said he was “thrown that complex planning applications cannot simply be extended.”

But he warned rejecting Peel’s bid could mean that they could come back with another application to build yet more houses.

He said: “I think all bets are off, they will ride roughshod and all kinds of developments you don’t want will be on the next application.”

Cllr David Wilkinson, of Westhoughton South, warned that the developers were still likely to win approval but said he would not be supporting the variation.

He said: “Are we now saying that they’re untouchable and every other little person in the borough can be squashed?”

He added: “If the Ryder Cup is so important to them, they’ll fight for the Ryder Cup.”

Cllr Debbie Newall, of Kearsley, said she agreed with Cllr Wilkinson’s points and that she had always believed the tournament itself was a “red herring” from the very start of the process.

Cllr Charlotte Moncado-Sears, of Horwich North, said that if the bid to host the Ryder Cup failed then the full planning permission would be “void anyway.”

ALSO READ: Work to start on historic estate earmarked for ‘Ryder Cup’ golf course and houses

ALSO READ: Bolton Council’s huge payout for ‘Ryder Cup’ golf course appeal

ALSO READ: Failed refusal of £240M luxury golf course decided ‘for political reasons’

The committee voted by majority to approve the variation to a stormy reception from the public gallery.

After the vote was carried shouts of “shameful”, “absolute joke”, “you don’t live amongst this, you’ve got no idea” could be heard. 

After the meeting a spokesperson for Peel Land said: “We are pleased that Bolton Council has reaffirmed its support for the Hulton Park project.

“This is a transformational opportunity for Bolton, not only as a sporting venue and cultural destination but as a catalyst for long-term economic growth, job creation and investment.

“The works proposed are a critical step in safeguarding the permission and momentum we’ve built together with our public and private sector partners to unlock this major investment.

“It ensures that we can continue in confidence, working collaboratively to make Bolton a global sporting and cultural destination.”

Further applications are expected in the coming weeks for pre-commencement conditions. 

A Bolton Council Spokesperson said: “The council is pleased the Hulton Park bid remains live as momentum continues to build behind Bolton’s ongoing regeneration.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to bring The Ryder Cup, the world’s flagship golfing event, to Bolton, and in doing so create an iconic sporting destination that rejuvenates the historic Hulton Park while providing positive outcomes for residents.”