Lord Derby defends Newmarket homes scheme

His forebears gave their name to the most famous flat race in the country. But the Earl of Derby's plans to build 1,200 homes in the horseracing town of Newmarket have been branded "obscene" in Parliament.

The proposals were attacked by local MP Richard Spring and opponents say they could lead to the town's population soaring, and put its status as the heart of the equine industry at risk.

But today Lord Derby, a stud owner and racing enthusiast, hit back, saying he had horseracing's best interests at heart and would pull out of the development if the industry was threatened in any way.
He said numbers being quoted by opponents were "just wrong" and Newmarket's population would grow by seven per cent and not a third, as some had claimed.

The development proposed for his Hatchfield Farm estate would also include shops, restaurants, community facilities and a primary school.

Opponents say the peaceful environment needed to breed thoroughbreds will be ruined, and roads used to exercise hundreds of horses each day will be clogged up.

Lord Derby said: "I am very aware and very live to the issues raised by this. We would aim to build up to 600 houses by 2021 and up to a further 600 by 2031. If I felt racing was threatened by this I would stop it.

"It is rather better if development happens in a controlled way by someone who is sympathetic and a part of the racing industry. My stud farm would go on being the boundary of this development." He said he had received only seven letters of complaint.

The plan was attacked by Mr Spring, MP for West Suffolk, in a debate at Westminster Hall. Newmarket, with population of 15,000, could expect a total of 1,640 extra homes by 2031 under council targets, he claimed. "Newmarket is a precious jewel in the life of England, with its extraordinary character and history.

"Frankly, however, the proposed development, which is obscene, has the capacity to destroy it."
He said the raising and training of young thoroughbreds required a "quiet and tranquil environment". Newmarket town council believed the proposal would cause "untold damage to the equine industry in the town and possibly its total demise".

He said the problem had been created by the East of England Development Agency's target of building 10,100 homes in the region by 2031. "If they did build 1,200 houses on the site it would destroy the racing industry," he added.

Lord Derby, 47, known as Teddy, is the 19th Earl. The family seat is Knowsley Hall in Merseyside, alongside Knowsley safari park, which the family opened in 1971. The Derby at Epsom was started in 1780 by the 12th Earl.

Asked about his motives for the scheme, Lord Derby said: "Clearly inheritance tax takes quite a hold on things, we have spent the past 15 years trying to improve the estate and clearly I carry quite a debt burden at the moment."