The Jockey Club Considers Selling Kempton Park for Housing Amidst Controversy
The Jockey Club, a private organization with a royal charter that has overseen British horse racing for nearly 300 years, appears poised to move forward with plans to sell Kempton Park for housing development.
Redrow, which holds a 2018 option to develop the Kempton site, could exercise this option before it expires in 2028. The option was transferred to Redrow and could potentially be extended if a planning application is under consideration.
Kempton Park, a 147-year-old site located near the M25 and with a rail link to Waterloo taking 46 minutes, is considered an attractive location for housing. Earlier plans envisioned building thousands of homes. Despite this, the site features an all-weather track that is highly profitable and generates substantial media-rights income, ranking among the top three most profitable tracks in the Jockey Club's portfolio.
Jim Mullen, the chief executive of the Jockey Club since 2025, stated that the decision regarding Kempton is out of his hands and that there are no concrete development plans yet; the option to develop remains with Redrow. Additionally, a government planning and infrastructure bill awaiting royal assent could limit local authorities' abilities to block developments, potentially facilitating the Kempton sale.
Local and industry opposition to prior plans has been strong. A 2017 development plan faced significant resistance, while a 2020 alternative proposed building 500 houses while continuing racing operations on the site.
The Jockey Club emphasizes that its royal charter requires it to act in the long-term interests of British racing. However, critics question whether selling Kempton for housing aligns with these interests, noting the potential use of sale proceeds to fund a new all-weather track at Newmarket.
Criticism has also been leveled at the governance structure of the Jockey Club, described as feudal, with ultimate power resting in the hands of nine stewards elected from approximately 200 invitation-only members.
