Jockey Club plans for new all-weather track in Newmarket progress to next stage

Positive feedback during a recent consultation process has prompted the Jockey Club to submit its plans for the redevelopment of the Racecourse Side area of the town in Newmarket, which includes a new all-weather racecourse and training facility at Southfields Farm.

The "Playing our part in Newmarket's future" consultation in the spring of this year was well received and the concepts have now been submitted for consideration as part of the ongoing West Suffolk Local Plan process.

Three-quarters of consultation respondents said they were in support of the overall concept for the area to the north east of the town, with ideas including a country park at Seven Springs off the Hamilton Road and potential residential development at Pinewood Stud.

Other comments received during the consultation, which had more than 300 attendees and 2,500 website visits between March 28 and April 22, included concerns around increased traffic, the need to protect biodiversity at Seven Springs and ensuring any homes created are affordable for Newmarket's workforce.

Preliminary investigations to see whether the project may be viable are ongoing.

The Rowley Mile racecourse has also been included in the submission to create the option for long-term infrastructure improvements in the future.

The artist's impression of the proposed all-weather facility behind the Rowley Mile

The plans in Newmarket also include the creation of a country park at Seven Springs

A computer-generated image of how the new track would look at Newmarket

Amy Starkey, the managing director for the Jockey Club's East Region, said: "Having reviewed the feedback from the consultation in the last few months and continued to engage with the stakeholders across Newmarket and beyond in that time, we believe there is sufficient merit in the ideas for Racecourse Side to submit them to West Suffolk's Local Plan for further consideration.

"All that means is that the land may receive what is known as 'preferred site' allocation, which would allow things to progress more easily should the decision be taken to move any of them forward in the future.

"We are a long way from making those decisions and while feedback from the consultation was very positive overall, we also recognise the need for further review and discussion on the proposals.

"These are ideas for the long-term future of the town and its world leading thoroughbred industries, and none of this is going to happen overnight if it happens at all."

Read more here:

'It looks a great facility' - plans revealed for all-weather track in Newmarket

2023 fixture list: how many meetings have been scheduled in Britain next year?

The 80-year-old jockey aiming to become oldest winner of historic Newmarket race

Dry weather and dusty training grounds causing increase in dirty scopes

The Front Runner is our latest email newsletter available exclusively to Members' Club Ultimate subscribers. Chris Cook, a four-time Racing Reporter of the Year award winner, provides his take on the day's biggest stories and tips for the upcoming racing every morning from Monday to Friday. Not a Members' Club Ultimate subscriber? Click here to join today and also receive our Ultimate Daily emails plus our full range of fantastic website and newspaper content