Save Historic Newmarket

The entrance to Stanley House Stud, also known as Hatchfield Farm in Newmarket, Suffolk, UK

Save Historic Newmarket is grassroots organisation based in Newmarket, Suffolk, with the stated aim of preserving the town as the global centre of the horseracing industry and preserving the many thousands of jobs it provides, and as a potential World Heritage Site. It came to national attention as one of many groups opposed to the Hatchfield stud farm development.

Newmarket

Newmarket is generally regarded as the global centre of thoroughbred horse racing. It is one of two major business clusters in its region, the other being the Cambridge Science Park. The horse racing and breeding businesses are estimated to provide over 5,000 jobs in the town alone. However, it has been noted that whilst being the leading employer, the racing industry in the town is fragile for a number of reasons, one being the difficulty of providing for the safe movement each day of the thousands of horses that are kept in Newmarket through the town to its training grounds.

Save Historic Newmarket began with small projects, including advising retailer Majestic Wine on a redesign of their new shop in the town, then in the planning stage. It is now one of the company's showcase shops.

Opposition to Hatchfield stud farm development

Save Historic Newmarket first came to national attention in 2009[1] by organising opposition to plans by Edward Stanley, 19th Earl of Derby to close his stud farm and build more than 1,500 houses in its place. The group and its affiliates have argued that the development represents a very poor cost-benefit bargain, as it threatens the town's future as a major economic, exporting and employment centre, whilst providing a residential development suited to nearby towns which have repeatedly requested more houses than they have been allocated in local plans.

They also argue that Newmarket competes in a global marketplace, and that the problems major training and breeding businesses contend with in attracting major investment must be considered if they are to continue to be able to provide the vast majority of employment in the town and surrounding area. The horse racing and breeding businesses are very labour-intensive industries and provide far higher employment opportunities in comparison to other businesses. There has also been shown to be an overwhelming supply of vacant houses in the local area. The dispute has been reported in both national and local newspapers.[2]

The group supports development in the district area surrounding Newmarket, Suffolk, and has supported a number of towns in the district who wish to greatly increase their housing allocations. However, it also supports the view of major local businesses that the proposed demolition of Hatchfield stud farm to make way for over 1,500 houses would be disastrous for the town's small and major businesses and employees, partially owing to a congested and inflexible road system in the town and poor present means of movement for horses around the town. Over 3,000 horses live in Newmarket, and most need to use the training grounds on a daily basis.

The development has been opposed by major local employers including Jockey Club Estates, Godolphin racing, Darley Stud, and trainers Sir Michael Stoute, Henry Cecil, James Fanshawe, Luca Cumani, John Gosden, Clive Brittain, John Berry and many others.

The British Horseracing Association, Tattersalls, have suggested that annual turnover of £175 million in horse sales could be jeopardised by the project. The Earl of Derby rejected criticisms, stating that only 600 homes would be built by 2021 with the possibility of another 600 being built by 2030, although there is no such schedule confirmed in the plans. He has also claimed that some of those objecting to the proposal contributed to the original consultation, where they did not raise any objections.

Soon after Lord Derby's announcement of his plans, it was admitted by senior management of Godolphin Racing that they could be forced to leave Newmarket if the development was approved. It was estimated that Godolphin and sister company Darley's departure from Newmarket would lead to the loss of at least 1,000 jobs.

Local residents have also questioned why Lord Derby's stud is not subject to the same policy on development as other equine land in the town. Targeted development restrictions in Newmarket's local plan, as approved by elected councillors, prevent some major changes in use of certain areas of equine land, and are regarded to have been successful for many years in attracting investment in Newmarket and maintaining its status as the global centre of the horse racing and breeding business, with the exception of the Queensbury Lodge dispute.

Lord Derby has not contended with many of these arguments. He has, however, claimed that he would "do nothing" to hurt the racing industry in Newmarket and has also said the area needs more housing.

Opposition to the George Lambton Playing Fields development

The group has also opposed an application to replace the town's communal playing fields with a Sainsbury's supermarket. The application was refused.

Rulings

On 2 June 2010, Forest Heath Planning Councillors unanimously rejected Lord Derby's plans on five separate grounds.[3] This was the first such local decision following announcement of the abolition of Regional Spatial Strategies by Conservative Communities and Local Government Minister Eric Pickles.[3] Edward Stanley, 19th Earl of Derby appealed the unanimous rejection of his plans. Local residents have said they had to raise up to £1 million to fight Lord Derby's appeal.

A group of local residents and businesses including Save Historic Newmarket then challenged the district council's planning strategy in the High Court, arguing it was flawed. On 25 March 2011, a Mr Justice Collins quashed the entire planning strategy related to Newmarket.[4] The council and Lord Derby, who had joined them in opposing the local residents, were ordered to pay 90% of the groups' costs and refused leave to appeal.[5]

Lord Derby's appeal proceeded throughout much of summer 2011, and was the subject of protests from local residents and businesses. On 23 March 2012, the Communities and Local Government Minister Eric Pickles, acting on the recommendation of the planning inspector, dismissed the appeal,[6] a decision that Lord Derby did not accept.[7]

References

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