If plans are approved, there would be around 30 race meetings a year, attracting 20,000 punters a time.
And it could mean the return of the Manchester Gold Cup after an absence of more than 40 years.
The development, called Salford Forest Park, would be on agricultural land next to Botany Bay Wood in Worsley and Boothstown. Peel Holdings, owners of the Trafford Centre, asked for permission to develop a woodland leisure park in the area, with a racecourse at its heart, two years ago, but the bid was withdrawn before it got to a planning committee.
Now the property giants have come up with detailed plans, including a spectacular three-tier glass grandstand for 6,000 race-goers.
The development on green belt land would include an oval floodlit track and equestrian facilities, including indoor and outdoor arenas for international dressage and show jumping.
Stabling for up to 100 horses and a four-star country house-style 80-bed hotel would be built around Moss House Farm. There would also be an 18-hole golf course and clubhouse.A pub and golf driving range have been dropped from the original plans and a 70-chalet "eco-village" providing a secluded retreat has been drastically reduced.
Instead, two turf-topped blocks, each divided into ten apartments, would be built next to a new lake.
The proposal includes opening up parts of Botany Bay Wood, the largest wood in Greater Manchester, for the first time.
Eleven miles of cycle trails, eight miles of riding trails and almost 20 miles of footpaths would allow the public onto land that has been traditionally out of bounds.
A nature reserve over 205 acres would be created to protect herons and clay pigeon shooting currently taking place in the area would stop.
About 104 acres of new woodland would be planted and a play area for children and timber craft workshop set up.
Course architect, Neil Southwell, said: "We have tried to create an all-weather grandstand, so that if it is raining you would be able to stay in the building and see all the racing. The winner's enclosure would be right in front of the stand.
"A Manchester suite would be open to any race-goer, then there would be 22 boxes on a second level and a third level for judges. The building would be predominately glass and designed to look like it was floating on air."
Peel Holdings, who own the land at Worsley, believe it would be ideal as the nearest racecourse to 2.2m people.
Peel already own the £600m Trafford Centre, John Lennon Airport at Liverpool - plus another airport near Doncaster as well as Barton Aerodrome - and have plans for a new port on the Manchester Ship Canal in Salford.
Peter Nears, strategic planning director at Peel said: "It can be a flagship project. This is an opportunity which we think is unique and it is on Manchester's doorstep."
Possible traffic problems upset residents who protested against an earlier plan two years ago, but now two entrances are proposed - one via a new spur off the slip road for junction 13 of the M60 at Worsley; the other off the East Lancs Road at Boothstown.
If permission is granted, it will take about three and a half years to get the park and racecourse up and running. The plans will be submitted to Salford council next month and they are expected to be considered by the planning committee before the end of the year.
John Merry, leader of Salford council, said: "I believe this is an idea that has significant benefits for the whole area."
What do you think of the plans for a racecourse?
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oh please... a racetrack? as if we didnt have enough gamblers in mancester... build something usefull for once...
Just fanstatic
Despite misgivings expressed by some residents in the worsley area, i think in princilple it is a worthy idea worth concideration by Salford City Council.
Being a resident of nearby Swinton, I understand that it is easy for me to approve of a development of this nature because it isn't necessarily 'in my back yard', but should the perceived problems with transport congestion be overcome, it seems like a high class venture that will bring much needed revenue, jobs and some kudos to the Worsley/Swinton area.
In time, I hope the residents of Worsley will come to appreciate that it may bring to the area the 'horse and hounds set' that some of the residents of Worsley think they belong.
My personal misgiving is that it will be constructed on fast disappearing green belt land and wonder if areas of brown belt land have been given similar consideration by the developers?
Yet another reason for Mancunians to be optimistic about the future of this Fantastic city.The investment that has been made(and is continuing to be made)in the area speaks volumes for the potential of Manchester to become one of Europes leading lights.Long may it continue.
Just fanstatic, if its jobs coming then why not we have plenty of bars but not every one is an Alcoholic, this city is going forward.
it,s about time it will be great to have one around manchester . here in canada we have the best racetrack in the world . the turf course is the best . that,s why a lot of horses come from england and ireland . it will bring lot,s of work and fun to the town
It sounds good but they should put a casino in there as well then it would cost nothing to park and nothing for admission like we have here in Ontario seems to work good here.
woe
Looks good - hope this one gets the go-ahead!
Any thoughts on possible public transport links, though ?
All ready on the comments page are the moaners! In my 30+ years in Manchester it never ceases to amaze me how many people moan that London & "down South" is were all the facilities and money are spent. The Commonwealth Games showed that Manchester could host big sporting events but I still heard many, many Mancunicins complaining!
A race track of a high standard, (and If the Trafford Centre is anything to go by then Peel Holdings will make it spectacular) has got to be an asset and yet another tourist attraction and money earner for Manchester.
I say bring it on and good luck you have my full support!
A racecourse would bring nothing but further congestion to an area already over-flowing with vehicles.
500 jobs - all full time? I would not think so.
This is green belt land - keep it that way - keep Worsley the historic area it is.
Interesting to note that most of the "fors" for the venture are from people living OUTSIDE the Worsley/Boothstown area - would their opinion be the same if they had to live with it day in, day out???
To "Jason", "GD" and especially "Chris Breeze", the proposed track will be in Salford not Manchester. And the people showing justified concern are Salfordians and not Mancunians.
A transportation nightmare in the offing.
Bringing more jobs to the area is really good.
The nightmare traffic is through Boothstown. A spur road from the East Lancs to the M60 would be really useful.
Why can't Peel Developments build a railway station with a large car park for local people as the Liverpool-Manchester rail line runs through that land?
Best of luck with the application, this would be a fantastic venture and I sincerely hope that it goes through.
I live not far from the proposed site and I actually feel it would be good not just for Salford but for Greater Manchester as a whole. One thing I think should be stressed if it is built is to acknowledge that it is IN Salford, IN Greater Manchester. Yes Manchester is a fab place at the moment and good luck to them, but Salford is greatly improving and deserves a little credit. The Trafford Centre isn't in Manchester. It's in Trafford, in Greater Manchester. Manchester seems to get all the credit for developments outside the administrative area of Manchester. Is it so hard to put 'Gtr.' infront of Manchester? Or maybe they should change the name to Manchester county or Co. Manchester. Anyway that's a different subject in a way. I just hope this goes ahead and the whole population of GREATER Manchester benefit from the racecourse. We proved that our great county could host the Commonwealth Games and so we should still all work together along with the AGMA's and promote the county as THE place to come. Forget being parts of Lancashire and Cheshire, that's 30 years in the past. We need to move forward and all the compulsive competing between the 10 local authorities is silly and in some ways loses money and projects. I love Greater Manchester, I was born here and I'm very proud to live within OUR county. It's an exciting place to live and there is so much potential. We just need to work together. I doubt the traffic will worsen by much. There are great oppurtunites for public transport with this development. Build a rail station for the racecourse, afterall it will be next to the Manchester - Liverpool main line and also once the Trafford Centre Metrolink extension is built there is huge potential for that to be extended to the racecourse to. A quality bus route to and from the racecourse via special bus lanes on the M60 could be developed which could also be used by services travelling to and from the Trafford Centre. The traffic problem can be overcome if investment is given and we need plenty of investment. Don't let this oppurtunity go, take it whilst we still can :) all vote yes for the racecourse, I know I will.
Chester gets by fine with the racecourse & hasn't the transport infrastructure - the locals here love it (especially the ladies days). Good poit about getting a trainline put in. A city like Manchester needs a racecourse nearby - surely 30 days a year isn't too much hassle?
Interesting to see that the 'AGAINSTS' are all from Worsley. This smacks of the NIMBY attitude that is all too prevelant in todays society. People seem unable to look past 'how will this affect me' and see how something will affect the area as a whole. The creation of 500 jobs and the influx of revenue and tourists into the Manchester area (You can say it's in Salford not Manchester all you like, it's still the Manchester 'area') far outweigh any traffic problems that may be created. Anyway there are provisions being put in place to minimise these problems. And as for the development being proposed for construction on green belt land lets get some perspective on this, it's a 'Racecourse' not factories or houses. How much damage will a huge area of grass cause to an huge area of grass and trees? And there are plans to make otherwise unusable Green Belt land into a viable leisure facility. Please, lets look at the big picture before we start complaining and protesting about the perceived negative aspects.
Good grief! It seems as though the whinging residents of Worsley and Boothstown are just as blinkered as some of the horses that will hopefully be racing at this facility. Maybe like the horses some of these residents need a good whipping to recognise the prizes that such a development could bring, e.g. inward investment, improved public profile. Banging on about "keeping the greenbelt" and "leaving Worsley alone" seems to be a recipe for letting the area continue its slide into mediocrity. Just because an area is Green belt doesn't mean nothing is allowed -read the guidance before you prattle on!
I think it a reet gud idea. I'm a reet keen gambler and walk miles so don't give two hoots 'bout traffic. Gud on that Whitacker geezer.
I am very concerned about the impact this project will have on wildlife and its habitat. Parts of this area have a unique status as rare European habitat and it is fast being eroded from all directions. I am sorry to say I will object to the planning application.
A great proposal that has ny full support. Those living in the immediate area understandably have major concerns about the impact on the area, particularly from increased traffic, but the developers have already included measures to mitigate these impacts. Instead of totally objecting to these proposals, nearby residents should focus their energies on lobbying for further mitigating measures in terms of access and public transport provision. A metrolink extension would not only alleviate potential road congestion but would also enhance the value of properties in the surrounding areas. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater!
what a brilliant idea , just what the area needs ,hope it happens
So Peel are going to open up the woods, create conservation areas, miles of cycle, horse and footpath. It all appears very familiar, the were supposed to do that on the golf course behind Worsley Old Hall, the walking and cycling experience there is less that satifying. As for conservation I can't see the herons getting much rest with millions of candelas of light being given off.
I think that the race course is just another peel holdings monopoly on buying Manchester! When we they stop. Yes Matt from Stockport residents in the area can look at wider implecations but when you have one of the busiest stretches of motorway in the country on your doorstep, traffic going to peels shopping centre we really do not need extra traffic in the area, not to mention the erosion of the greenbelt land. The racecourse if lets face it we need another could of been built to generate and facelift a deprived area and not one that is fine just the way it is. I will be opposing the racecourse but do not see what good it is as Mr Whittaker has probabley bought the coucilors that so called represent us in Salford and he always gets what he wants anyway irrespective of what opposition has to say.