THE proposed Ryder Cup standard golf course in Westhoughton would be 'entirely built on a nationally important historic landscape', according to the Woodland Trust.

The charity formally objected to Peel Land and Property's £240million plan for the course at the 645-acre Hulton Park Estate, which also includes a a new luxury hotel and around 1,000 homes.

It said the location is classed as 'priority wood pasture and parkland' and that the site is important for its unique makeup, containing open grown and veteran trees, glazed pasture, grassland and heathland.

In a statement, the trust claimed the land is 'vital' for wildlife including bats, rare insects and fungi.

Jill Butler, Woodland Trust ancient tree specialist, said: "Wood pasture and parkland is more than just its individual trees and grass, it provides an important wildlife habitat which is unique in its own right.

"The current landowner has owned Hulton Park for seven years and in that time could have taken steps, supported by agricultural subsidies, to reverse the decline of the parkland and trees. Instead they are intent on using the decline to justify turning it into a golf course."

The organisation claimed that wood pasture and parkland is nationally important 'historically, culturally and for wildlife' due to its long continuity of habitat over hundreds of years, dating back to medieval times when they were royal forests or wooded commons.

Many, such as at Hulton Park, have been overlain by designed landscapes often associated with big estates from the 16th century.

Peel revealed the plans for the estate, including artist impressions of the ambitious project, in May.

The 18-hole championship golf course has been designed by European Golf Design to cater for the largest golf tournaments.

The Ryder Cup requires the capacity and facilities to host the world’s media and around 70,000 visitors at a time.

The luxury hotel with spa and conference facilities would be built on the site of the former Hulton Hall, demolished in the 1950s.

‘New Hulton Hall’ will sit in the restored listed landscape of lakes, pleasure grounds and a walled kitchen garden that once graced the estate.

As part of the plans, a new golf clubhouse will also be built on the edge of the park, while on adjoining land a golf academy will also be created. It would include a driving range, short course area, adventure golf, and spaces for education, tuition and sports science.

A planning application was later submitted and included 442 separate documents containing thousands of pages.

The community group formed to fight the plans, Hulton Estate Area Residents Together (HEART), campaigned for an extended consultation period beyond the usual 21 days.

A spokesman from Bolton Council said the authority acknowledged it was a 'large and complex' planning application.

Neighbours now have until Thursday to comment on the application.

Around 250 campaigners recently marched through Hulton Park Estate to protest the proposed development.

To view or comment on the plans, search for reference number 00997/17 on the planning portal at bolton.gov.uk