Not everyone is happy with Bolton’s bid to host the famous golf tournament in 2035

05:00, 06 Apr 2026Updated 06:00, 06 Apr 2026

Sandra Hesketh, whose home overlooks Hulton Park, the potential Ryder Cup site

A fortnight ago, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham announced £420m for a host of new developments and projects and backed a bid to host the biggest ever Ryder Cup in Bolton.

The latest ‘Good Growth’ spending package from Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) included support for plans for a £240m Hulton Park golf resort, near Westhouhgton, to host the 2035 Ryder Cup – one of the world’s biggest sporting events.

Peel Land acquired the sprawling 608-acre parkland estate, once home to Hulton Hall and owned by the Hulton family, in 2010. It has existing planning permission for the golf resort and more than 1,000 new homes on mainly green belt land at the park.

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Any development there, however, depends on Bolton being awarded the Ryder Cup. Should the bid succeed, the planned Hulton Park golf resort would host the biennial battle between the USA and Europe in 2035 – with estimations that it could be worth as much as £1.2bn to the north west region’s economy.

But many frustrated residents claim the Ryder Cup is a ‘white elephant’ – and believe the golf resort and associated housing schemes would lead to the town’s services becoming more stretched and bemoan the loss of green space.

‘The Ryder Cup is smoke and mirrors’

Sandra Hesketh, 78, lives on Manchester Road, overlooking the Hulton estate, the land earmarked for the Ryder Cup development. A giant orange sign opposing the estate’s development sits at the side of her front garden, visible to the thousands of motorists a day passing on the A6.

She was a founding member of Hulton Estate Area Residents Together (HEART) around 10 years ago.

She said: “I just think the Ryder Cup is a white elephant. They got that piece of land for a song and I believe they’re only interested in building executive houses – not affordable homes that people need in Bolton.

“They want to build on the fields and how did they persuade the council. They said ‘let’s bring a big sporting event to Bolton’. I think it’s smoke and mirrors.

CGI of how a Ryder Cup golf course could look if Bolton is awarded the 2035 tournament

“There’s never been a Ryder Cup given to an unbuilt golf course. It would be a mammoth build in the time they have and don’t forget it’s a flood plain.”

Jackie Roberts, who lives near to the centre of Westhoughton, is also a supporter of HEART. She believes the golf tournament is a ‘ruse’ to give a pathway to other development.

She said: “So it’s big news that Bolton is bidding for the Ryder Cup on green belt farm land in an area of Westhoughton and Atherton that is already swamped with new houses and traffic. This is what this bid is all about.

Jackie Roberts from Westhoughton

“I think Peel want to build 1,000 more houses on that land and the Ryder Cup and the necessary golf course is the ruse. The local council turned down the planning and it was only granted on appeal, so where is the local democracy?”

Announcement included transport funds

The ‘Good Growth’ funding also included £69.8m for the Park Avenue link road west of Bolton, the first phase of the wider 18 kilometre M61-M6 NorthFold east-west link road from Bolton to Wigan, which would cut congestion through Westhoughton and help service the golf resort. The funding also included active‑travel routes and bus infrastructure to support major mixed‑use development.

It is claimed that section of road would ease persistent road congestion, particularly at the Chequerbent roundabout, close to the M61.

The associated Lee Hall development, which would mean Park Avenue would be built, consists of 1,450 homes. Peel Land said that project, for which planning permission is still pending, would lead to a major new park in Westhoughton, community facilities, a care home and school, plus allotments.

Peel Land have revealed development plans for Lee Hall in Westhoughton, including a section of the east/west link road called Park Avenue

GMCA said the latest road investment would ‘unlock’ 4,000 new homes, 25,000 sqm of employment space and 1,250 full-time equivalent jobs.

The notoriously congested Chequerbent roundabout, where there are already several new or under construction housing estates nearby

Mark Phillipson, 55, from nearby Atherton, was in the area working. He said: “It’s difficult. I’m not against investment in roads and new homes, creating growth as such, but what is key is the sequencing.

“I think it’s essential that the infrastructure – schools, health centres, nurseries and sports facilities – come before the houses. Otherwise things get much worse before they get better.”

Council bosses say they have put forward ‘a serious plan to tackle the persistent traffic problems in Westhoughton’.

Bolton council leader Nick Peel said: “This major investment in the Park Avenue link road will not only ease that congestion but also unlock growth and create jobs at this key strategic location. Greater Manchester’s backing for our Ryder Cup bid at nearby Hulton Park is further evidence of Bolton’s growing reputation as a host of world-class events.”

But Westhoughton resident John Roberts said the link road was already needed, before any additional homes were built.“The new link road in itself is probably a desirable thing but it depends on the route and what it affects,” he said.

John Roberts believes there is not enough infrastructure to support the new developments

“Westhoughton is rammed with traffic now. The road is needed now, irrespective of any more housing.”

What Peel has said

This week, Peel Land responded to the ‘Good Growth’ announcement on road investment.

Stephen Wild, managing director at Peel Land Group, said: “The much-welcomed funding announcement for the Park Avenue link road is crucial in addressing the long-term issue of congestion in the area for local communities.

“It’s also pivotal to unlocking ambitions for the Northfold growth corridor, including the Hulton Park Ryder Cup opportunity, alongside the Lee Hall project where we can potentially deliver 1,400 much needed homes as well as new employment space and community infrastructure.

The entrance to the Hulton estate, the proposed site of the 2035 Ryder Cup

“The green light for the Wigan-Hindley Link Road gives a further much needed boost to the infrastructure supporting our collective ambitions for Northfold which will bring new homes, jobs and leisure opportunities for Wigan and Bolton.”

Speaking last month, Andy Burnham said: “We’ve had promising conversations with organisers about bringing the tournament to a bespoke, world-class course at Hulton Park.

“But it will only be possible with the right infrastructure. We’re doing our bit to make it happen. We’re committing up to £70 million to deliver a transport package to not only help spectators get to the site but deliver major benefits for the people living in the surrounding areas.

“As well as the new jobs and tourist spend the Ryder Cup would deliver, there’s also a chance to deliver a lasting legacy. We want to work with Government to align transport investment to the tournament – delivering more frequent and modern trains on the Atherton line, investing in better rail stations and speeding up work to connect the area to the Metrolink network.”