The Earl of Derby has won a controversial planning war that spanned 11 years to build 400 homes and a primary school on a site next to the Sheikh of Dubai’s stud farm.
Edward Stanley, the 19th Earl of Derby, who is worth £45million, has wanted to build homes at his Hatchfield Stud Farm in Newmarket since 2009.
But the controversial plans have been fiercely contested by the town’s jockey community who fear that it could damage the town’s horse racing industry.
Edward Stanley (pictured with his sister-in-law), the 19th Earl of Derby, who is worth £45million, has wanted to build homes at his Hatchfield Stud Farm in Newmarket since 2009
Under the plans – approved this week by the government – the development will include 400 three to five-bedroom homes, a site for a new primary school and five hectares of employment land.
Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s stud farm, Godolphin Stud, and the British Horseracing School, neighbours the site and Newmarket Racecourse is two miles away.
Edward Stanley, the 19th Earl of Derby, who is worth £45million, has wanted to build homes at his Hatchfield Stud Farm in Newmarket since 2009
Newmarket is referred to as the headquarters of British horseracing and is home to many key horse racing organisations, including horse auctioneer Tattersalls and the National Horseracing Museum.
Many horse trainers also have their training yards in the Suffolk town.
In planning documents, The Newmarket Horsemen’s Group, which represents all those in the region involved in the racing and breeding industry, said: ‘The proposal will put more traffic into a network already suffering from severe traffic conditions.
‘The horseracing industry is of considerable importance to the area, and the threat of relocation is there. There is a threat to riders from adverse traffic, the value of the animals is high.
Under the plans – approved this week by the government – the development will include 400 three to five-bedroom homes, a site for a new primary school and five hectares of employment land. Pictured: Artist impression of the site
Newmarket is referred to as the headquarters of British horseracing and is home to many key horse racing organisations, including horse auctioneer Tattersalls and the National Horseracing Museum. Pictured: Artist impression of the site
‘This is not something the racing industry takes any great pleasure in doing, but we dispute the benefits the applicant puts forward. We think they have been overstated.’
After initial plans were turned down, Lord Derby’s most recent plans were lodged in October 2013.
They were subsequently approved by the local Forest Heath District Council.
But in 2016, then Local Government Secretary Sajid Javid refused to accept the council’s decision.
This then forced two public enquiries and a case in the High Court in 2017.
Robert Jenrick, the Secretary of State for Housing, has now approved the plans.
A report outlining the decision, released this week, said: ‘The Secretary of State considers that the delivery of homes including affordable units carries substantial weight and that the economic benefits of the proposal carry modest weight in favour of the proposal.’
Stanley inherited the earldom of Derby and other family titles in 1994, on the death of his uncle and includes the Knowsley Estate, the Knowsley Safari Park. Pictured is the proposed site
It added there was ‘no evidence’ any horse trainers would move out of Newmarket if the plans went ahead.
The Derby family can trace its horse racing heritage back to the 5th Earl of Derby in the sixteenth century.
The Epsom Derby was named after the 12th Earl of Derby while The Oaks was named after the 12th Earl’s house near Epsom.
Edward Stanley usually has one or sometimes two horses in training each year from Hatchfield Stud Farm, managed by his brother, Peter Stanley.
Stanley inherited the earldom of Derby and other family titles in 1994, on the death of his uncle and includes the Knowsley Estate, the Knowsley Safari Park.
Lord Derby’s wife Lady Derby, previously dated Prince Andrew, The Duke of York for a short time in 1993.
Later that year, she announced her engagement to the 19th Earl of Derby.