MORE than 1,000 homes, a hotel and golf course can be built at Hulton Park if Bolton is chosen to host the Ryder Cup, the Secretary of State has ruled.

Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government Robert Jenrick has granted planning permission for the major development by Peel L&P on the condition it wins a bid to host the competition in 2030 or 2034.

A total of 1,036 could now be built on the historic 1,000-acre estate alongside a 142-bed hotel and a championship grade golf course if a bid is successful.

This comes after a three-week public inquiry was held in Bolton last October.

Bolton Council gave the green light to the plans in 2018, but its decision was called in by the Secretary of State following a hard-fought campaign by Hulton Estate Area Residents Together (HEART) who led objections at the inquiry.

It is the first time that the government has intervened in a decision by Bolton Council in such a way since the new Wanderers’ football stadium and the major out-of-town retail park in Middlebrook were signed off in 1995.

HEART secretary Sandra Hesketh said she feels “sick in her stomach”.

She said: “It’s very disappointing. We wonder if the inspector really understood our arguments because she’s discounted everything our expert witnesses argued. Harm to the green belt, the heritage – it just doesn’t make any sense.

“The only good thing is there’s a condition that it will only go ahead if it is chosen to host the 2030 or 2034 Ryder Cup and if it doesn’t go ahead, they can’t do it.”

The decision comes just days after a government-appointed inspector overturned a Bolton Council decision which allows Bellway Homes to build another 167 homes on protected feels at Bowlands Hey.

But unlike the Westhoughton site, where 129 houses are already under construction, the Hulton Park Estate is classified as green belt land.

Westhoughton councillor Anna-Marie Watters said her heart sank when she heard the news that another major development had been approved nearby.

She said: “We’re in the hands of developers and developers can see that.

“What’s the point of having different categories of land. What the point of having green belt? It’s a free for all.”

A full report by planning inspector Karen Ridge, who recommended the Secretary of State approves the application, was published on July 30.

The validity of the Secretary of State’s decision may be challenged by making an application to the High Court within six weeks of this date.