Plans for a new multi-million pound racecourse development near Salford, Greater Manchester, have gone before a public inquiry at the request of the developer behind the scheme.

In November last year, Peel Holdings appealed to the government to intervene in the planning process after both Salford City Council (SCC) and Wigan Council failed to decide whether to approve the company's proposals for Salford Forest Park. A new international standard horse racing course, including a 6,000-seat grandstand, an eventing course and an equestrian centre, is at the centre of Peel Holdings' plans for the 1,690-acre (684-hectare site).

Proposals also include an 18-hole golf course, an 80-bedroom hotel with a gym, a restaurant and a swimming pool, and a forest park vistior centre, as well as an eco-village, 11 miles (17.7km) of cycle trails and 20 miles (32.2km) of footpaths. However, the scheme is set to encounter opposition from SCC, which met on 18 December last year to register its formal view and unanimously rejected the plans due to the impact the development would have on green belt land.