KEMPTON PARK is set for business as usual after The Jockey Club revealed plans for the track's redevelopment have been scrapped.

A statement on Wednesday announced the new housing programme in the area will be on a smaller scale than first imagined.

The news comes as a relief to racing fans as at one stage it looked as though the prestigious King George meeting would have to be relocated elsewhere.

Sandy Dudgeon, Senior Steward of The Jockey Club, said: “We have respected the position of Spelthorne Borough Council throughout their Local Plan process with relation to Kempton Park.

"Having weighed up the latest information, we have now put forward another option alongside the original full site for their consideration.

"This would involve just a proportion of the available land there and allow Jump and All-Weather Flat racing to continue.

“A healthy, sustainable and well-funded sport for the long-term can only be achieved by investing in our sport.

"The need for British Racing to raise significant funding to enable this is perhaps even more vital now than when our original proposals were announced.”

Pressure from the public has been a big factor in the scaling back of the racing development.

Julian Larkin, Group Planning Director of Redrow Homes, commented: “The planning representations we have submitted as part of the Local Plan consultation in support of development at Kempton Park emphasise the opportunity that exists to provide high quality new homes in a sustainable location, close to existing transport infrastructure and on previously developed land, in line with National Planning Policy Framework guidelines.

“The new homes would contribute to meeting Spelthorne Borough Council’s identified housing need and help reduce the need to remove land from the Green Belt in less sustainable locations across the borough.

"We look forward to discussing the planning representations with the council and wider community as the Local Plan consultation progresses.”

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