Peel’s Salford Forest Park racecourse rejected

Communities Secretary John Denham has rejected an appeal by Peel into plans for a racecourse in Salford.

Salford and Wigan had not yet made a decision on the application when Peel took the plans to appeal in 2008.

Denham dismissed the appeal and refused planning permission for the scheme. His decision letter said the scale of development in green belt was 'inappropriate' and would cause great harm. The drawbacks outweighed the employment that would be created, he said.

Peel wanted to develop the £100m Salford Forest Park scheme on land south of Boothstown near the M60. As well as a racecourse with 6,000-capacity grandstand, there was to have been a hotel, 18-hole golf course and a nature reserve.

Your Comments

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They can’t see the wood for the trees.

By A Peel

You win some, you win some, you win some and then you lose one

By Airfix

Salford missed the boat on this. There was a chance to put us on the REAL map. They will come to regret this

By Worsley Resident

John Denham made the right decision by rejecting the appeal. It is unnecessary, not to mention against government legislation, to build on green belt land when there are so many brownfield sites desperate for investment.

By Alix Lowe

p.s. suck on that peel holdings 😀

By Mr Smith

While there is clearly a case for preserving the very best of this green and pleasant land, can’t help but think a wonderful opportunity has been missed at Salford Forest Park. New development is often be the life blood of economic propsperity.

By Graham Jones

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