Secretive Plans for Kempton Racecourse Sale and Development
Redrow holds an option, originally granted in 2018 and transferred to them, allowing the development of the 147-year-old Kempton Racecourse site for housing. This option remains exercisable until 2028, with a limited extension possible if planning considerations are ongoing.
Since his appointment in 2025, Jockey Club chief executive Jim Mullen has stated that Kempton is out of his hands, and there have been no concrete development plans made, although the Redrow option still exists.
Legislation in the form of a government planning and infrastructure bill awaiting royal assent could reduce local councils' power to block development projects, potentially facilitating the exercise of Redrow's option at Kempton.
If the option is exercised, the plan envisages building approximately 3,000 houses on the Kempton site, which is strategically located near the M25 motorway with a rail link providing a 46-minute journey to Waterloo.
Kempton's all-weather track is a highly profitable asset for the Jockey Club, generating significant media rights income, and is considered the third-most lucrative track within the Club's portfolio of 15 tracks.
The Jockey Club operates under a royal charter and claims to act in the long-term best interests of British racing. However, its governance is concentrated among nine stewards elected from about 200 members who are invited exclusively.
Public opposition to the demolition of Kempton in 2017 prompted an alternative 2020 proposal involving 500 houses alongside continued racing, underscoring ongoing tensions surrounding the site's future.
The Guardian highlights the potential long-term use of proceeds from any sale to build a new all-weather track at Newmarket, aligning with the Jockey Club's strategic ambitions.
