A proposed championship golf course in Bolton is now one of just two shortlisted by the Government for a Ryder Cup bid.
Developer Peel L&P's £250 million vision for Hulton Park is set to go in front of a Bolton Council planning committee on February 24.
Despite not yet being approved, the planned course at the development is being considered by UK Sport as a potential venue to host the biennial event in 2031.
READ MORE: What a Ryder Cup would actually mean for Bolton according to those behind ambitious bid
UK Sport are set to decide between Hulton Park and London Golf Club by April of this year, after The Belfry pulled out of the reckoning.
The chosen course will then be submitted to the European Tour, ahead of a final decision in July.
Peel L&P believe that there is now a "very realistic and exciting prospect" of the Ryder Cup coming to Bolton in nine years time, due to the Government's 'levelling up' promises.
Director of Planning and Strategy, Richard Knight said: “The selection of Hulton Park as a potential venue for the Ryder Cup is now a very realistic and exciting prospect and we hope that the council will seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity and support our efforts to bring this prestigious event – and all the benefits that flow from it – to Bolton.
“Our revised proposals for Hulton Park are a great fit with the Government’s Levelling Up missions and it’s good to see the importance placed on sport and health in the White Paper to help balance regional and local inequalities.
“The development of Hulton Park is transformational for the area and would also act as a catalyst to regeneration for Bolton and surrounding parts of Greater Manchester.
“And, with decisions due over the coming weeks, this is a project that can help speed up delivery for the Government.”
In the Levelling Up White Paper issued last week, the Government confirmed that it has ‘commissioned UK Sport to lead feasibility work on the prospect of bringing major sporting events to the UK. This work will focus on opportunities outside London - supporting and underpinning the ambition to level up the UK.’
Richard added: “Culture, heritage, sport and reducing health inequalities are all things the Government recognises are needed in helping to level up the country and Hulton Park can deliver in all these areas with a focus on net zero, biodiversity, environmental enhancements and inclusivity too.
“Bringing the Ryder Cup to Bolton would help to unlock all of these opportunities and we hope people will see the potential to create something very special here that would bring huge benefits.
“As a North West-based regeneration business with decades of experience including the transformation of places like Salford Quays, we are greatly excited by the upcoming decisions for Hulton Park.”
Peel say that the development would be worth £1.6 billion to the economy and would create 1,000 local jobs but the plans have been met with opposition by people living in the local area.
Campaign group HEART (Hulton Estate Area Residents Together) has been the most vocal opposition to the plans over the past few years and last year, chairman David Chadwick told the Manchester Evening News : "I just think they're rubbish.
"It's been a park since the 1100s and it's home to lots of wild animals, birds, and trees.
"Some parts aren't accessible to the public, but if Peel got their way, they wouldn't be letting people ramble across a championship golf course so it's swings and roundabouts.
"I most certainly will be objecting to the plans and I'm sure the majority of HEART will be want to object to Peel coming back with modifications to the existing plans."
