Ryder Cup Hulton Park: Bolton Council ordered to pay costs to Peel L&P

This comes after the £240m project to build an 18-hole championship golf course and more than 1,000 new houses in Over Hulton was approved by the government last month, overruling Bolton Council’s decision to refuse the proposal.

The council will now have to pay the costs of the appeal to developers Peel L&P, while the government’s Planning Inspectorate has strongly criticised the authority’s previous decision to try and block the plans.

Peel L&P did not apply for costs but the Planning Inspectorate decided independently to make the full award after the way Bolton Council dealt with the application.

A report by inspector Dominic Young said: “I have found that the planning committee’s decision was unreasonable, irrational and injudicious to the extent that no reasonable authority would have made it.

“There were also substantial procedural failings.”

The project aims to bring the Ryder Cup tournament to Bolton

He added: “I disagree with the council’s suggestion that an award of costs would somehow undermine the incentive on planning authorities to act reasonably or encourage them to argue weak points on appeal.”

The Hulton Park bid has long been highly controversial in Bolton, with supporters arguing it will bring unprecedented investment and prestige to the area, while opponents argue it will damage the environment and put excessive strain on local infrastructure.

The Planning Inspectorate overruled the council and gave to go-ahead to the bid after a two-day public inquiry, held over October 6 and 7, which heard from both supporters and objectors to the bid.

Bolton Council's decision to reject the bid has been strongly criticised (Image: Newsquest)

But the project will still hinge on whether the borough is successful in its bid to host the Ryder Cup competition.

The inquiry came about after Peel L&P launched an appeal against the council planning committee’s decision to reject the bid last February.

A Bolton Council spokesman said: “The council did not contest the appeal, which was made against a decision taken in February by cross-party members of the planning committee.

“Given this, and the fact that Peel have not made any request for costs, we are therefore disappointed that the Planning Inspector has decided to award costs.

"We appreciate that Peel has no choice but to accept the award of costs, and we will now work to settle the amount."

The company themselves did not apply for the award of costs, which was decided by the Planning Inspectorate.

The plans also include more than 1,000 new houses (Image: Peel L&P)

Peel L&P director for planning and strategy Richard Knight said: “We have received the Inspector’s decision and are considering the content of it and will discuss matters with the council in due course.

“We highlight Peel L&P did not apply for an award of costs.”

Bolton Council officials say they will work with the developers to settle the amount they will have to pay.

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