Projects from “Playing Our Part” consultation receive draft allocation in Local Plan

Projects from “Playing Our Part” consultation receive draft allocation in Local Plan

The Jockey Club has today issued an update following the publication of the latest draft of West Suffolk Council’s Local Plan which looks at how Newmarket will grow over the next 15 – 20 years to best meet the combined needs of the community and the internationally renowned horseracing industry.

The draft plan for Newmarket focuses on the area of land known as “Racecourse Side” in the northwest of the town which has been provisionally allocated as a preferred site for a new 75-acre country park at Seven Springs and a community of around 400 new homes at Pinewood.

An all-weather racing and training facility, including starter yards, had also been proposed for Racecourse Side. Whilst this has not been specifically allocated, the broader horseracing policies provide the opportunity for developing such a facility in Newmarket, should it be needed in the future.  

These ideas, as well as a cinema at the Subscription Rooms, which is being considered by The Newmarket Charitable Foundation and The Jockey Club separate to the Local Plan, were part of a public consultation which took place in March 2022 on how The Jockey Club could best play its part in Newmarket’s future.

The results of the four-week consultation period, in which 76% of respondents supported or strongly supported the ideas presented, led The Jockey Club to submit the ideas for consideration in the West Suffolk Council Local Plan in the summer of 2022.

The Draft Local Plan, which includes the provisional allocations for the Seven Springs Country Park and new homes at Pinewood, is now subject to approval from the full council, the Planning Inspector and, ultimately the Secretary of State.

If adopted, in around spring 2025, the Local Plan will provide a blueprint for future development across the district over the next 15 – 20 years with each individual proposal still being required to go through a formal local authority planning application process. 

Nevin Truesdale, Chief Executive Officer of The Jockey Club, said: “We remain absolutely committed to playing our part in the future of Newmarket and ensuring the town as a whole has a bright and sustainable future.

“We wanted to provide this update as the draft Local Plan is now in the public domain and to continue the open dialogue we want to have with the local community and more widely around these concepts.

“We will await the outcome of the West Suffolk Local Plan process and continue to welcome dialogue should anyone wish to contact us.”

West Suffolk’s Full Council is scheduled to review the draft Local Plan at a meeting on 19th December 2023. If they vote to approve the draft, a consultation period will follow with a public examination expected in the summer/ autumn of 2024.