Major plans for a £240million luxury golf course development were given the go-ahead after inspectors overruled Bolton Council’s decision to reject the bid.
The government inspectors decided to give the bid the green light after a two-day enquiry held earlier in October.
Objections to the Hulton Park plan had often focused on the environmental impact of the project, which the inspectors aimed to address.
The report, by inspector Dominic Young said: “While I understand the concerns of local residents and councillors about the issue of air quality and its potential hazardous effect on health, no party has adduced evidence to challenge the conclusions of the Appellant’s Air Quality Assessment.”
He added: “This found that congestion, the biggest component of air quality concerns, would be reduced as a result of this proposal, rather than increased.
“Accordingly, there would not be a significant impact on air quality.
“That conclusion is now accepted by the council.”
The report also concluded that the ‘benefits’ of the scheme in terms of economic and social value would outweigh the ‘limited’ damage done to greenbelt land.
As well as the golf course itself, the plans also include proposals for include a village centre, a village hall, community allotments, primary school, short stay holiday accommodation and 1,036 new houses.
Mr Young’s report also said that, if the rejection was allowed to stand then he would be concerned that Bolton would not be able to meet its need for housing.
He said: “The Council is unable to demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable housing sites.
“Key policies of the development plan are also inconsistent with the National Planning Policy Framework.
“The development plan is therefore out-of-date and this limits the weight I can attach to those policies which are concerned with the supply of housing.”
The report also recognised that objectors had raised concerns about whether the development could go ahead despite the rights to host the Ryder Cup international golf competition in Bolton having not yet been secured.
But Mr Young confirmed that ‘essentially the situation remains the same’ in that planning agreements would prevent development starting until the competition’s organising body confirmed in writing that Hulton Park had been selected as the venue.
Despite the decision taken by the planning committee in February this year to reject the bid, Bolton Council had decided not to defend this choice during this month's inquiry.
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A Bolton Council spokesperson said: “The Planning Inspector has found that the proposed changes to the Hulton Park scheme are an acceptable modification to the existing planning approval granted by the Secretary of State in 2020.
“The council notes the decision and will now look closely at the detail in the inspector’s report and consider any implications of these changes for the surrounding area.
“The development remains contingent on the site being selected as a venue for a future Ryder Cup.
“Each phase of development would be subject to reserved matters planning applications, and these will be considered in line with national planning policy.”
Bolton is currently one of two potential UK venues that could be chosen to host the famous tournament.
The European Tour, which organises the Ryder Cup, will make its decision at a later date.
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