Jockey Club's Kempton Park Sale Option and Development Plans Amid Community Opposition
Since 2018, Redrow has held an option to purchase Kempton Park from the Jockey Club for potential development, including a possible 3,000-home project. As of 2025, no concrete plans for development have been announced by the Jockey Club, but the option remains in place and could be exercised. This option is subject to planning permission and is due to expire in 2028 unless extended during the planning process.
Kempton Park's all-weather race track remains highly profitable, hosting major events such as the King George VI Chase. Despite the option to sell, the Jockey Club continues to operate the venue, though Jim Mullen, the club’s chief executive, has noted the situation is "out of my hands," referencing the option agreement established in 2018.
The Jockey Club's governance operates under a royal charter with a member-based structure consisting of nine stewards elected from approximately 200 members, a framework critics consider feudal and opaque.
Public opposition arose strongly in 2017 against plans to bulldoze Kempton for housing. This led to a revised 2020 proposal allowing continued racing alongside development of around 500 homes, reflecting community pushback to large-scale housing schemes.
Should the sale proceed, the Jockey Club has indicated that proceeds could be invested in establishing a new all-weather track at Newmarket as part of its long-term strategy.
