The long debated Hulton Park scheme to build an 18-hole golf course and 1036 homes with other facilities was approved by government inspectors who overruled Bolton Council in 2022.
According to the most recent plans to be put forward, developers Peel L&P expected the hosts for the 2031 and 2035 Ryder Cup tournament to be announced in 2023 or 2024.
A cover letter on behalf of Peel said: “This had followed the selection of the site as a shortlisted candidate venue by UK Sport and Ryder Cup during 2021.
“However, the process has been delayed and remains ongoing, with decisions yet to be made in respect of 2035; with Spain being awarded 2031.
The plans were approved back in 2022
“Hulton Park remains a shortlisted candidate venue for an English Ryder Cup in the joint process by UK Sport and Ryder Cup Europe, and it is understood from discussions with UK Sport that the Ryder Cup remains a targeted ‘mega event’.
“Despite this, the timescales of the process remain uncertain.”
The UK Planning Inspectorate decided to approve the Hulton Park scheme back in 2022 after a two-day inquiry.
A report by inspector Dominic Young ordered Bolton Council to pay £400,000 towards the costs of the inquiry, despite Peel having not asked for this to be paid.
The plans also include various other facilities (Image: Peel L&P)
Mr Young’s report criticised the council’s original decision to reject the bid as “unreasonable, irrational and injudicious to the extent that no reasonable authority would have made it”.
To keep the application “live” Peel submitted further plans back in March 2025 for work on a “ceremonial drive”.
In December this year, Bolton Council a further application for lawful commencement and continuation of the development.
The application said that lawful development had started on the site on September 12 2025, with works including removing the existing driveway ahead of the construction of a new one.
The developers said that all conditions and obligations for the first phase of the development had been met and so the permission had been lawfully started.
Bolton Council announced in December that the certificate of lawful development had been approved.
