Representation by Godolphin Management Company Limited (Godolphin Management Company Limited )
- Date submitted
- 10 March 2022
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Godolphin is the global thoroughbred breeding operation and horseracing team founded by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. It is an international operation and Team Godolphin spans across four continents, from their home in Dubai to Europe, Australia, Japan and America. Godolphin is the biggest international investor in Newmarket and continues to operate here because of the world class nature of the facilities within the economic cluster it has become. Godolphin strongly objects in principle to the provision of a solar farm in this location, as it believes that any planning benefits from this scheme are hugely outweighed by the significant harm it will have on the horse racing industry, with the potential to drive away further investors and deter potential owners who will see an essentially rural pursuit being blighted by the presence of a huge industrial complex. This will be particularly acute at the Limekilns where Godolphin works some of its best horses on gallops that are exceptional, possibly the best in the world. This historic setting, where some of the best racehorses in history have trained, will be forever blighted. Furthermore, the gallops at Snailwell are Godolphin’s main internal training facility and are used extensively all year round up to 10am each morning. The Gallops are located immediately to the west of W03 and W04 of Sunnica West Site A. W03 and W04 stretch the entire length of the Gallops and located next to the straight where the horses are at full gallop as they head north up the hill towards the brow. The horses using these facilities are highly strung, young thoroughbred race horses under training who spook easily with sudden and unexpected noise or movement in their peripheral vision. There is an existing planting belt between the application site and the Gallops, however it is essential that this planting belt is infilled in parts to ensure there is no view through from the Gallops into the site. A landscape masterplan has been submitted as part of the Development Consent Order (DCO) documents and in the event the Examiners are minded to approve the DCO then it is essential that this planting scheme is delivered as soon as practical. Given the propensity of the horses to spook, then within the Construction Environmental and Management Plan (CEMP) it has been stated that “Noisy works will not be undertaken until after 10:00 hours in the Work Areas close to Snailwell Gallops in Sunnica West Site A, specifically W03, W04 and EC05”. It is vital that this is complied with in order to protect the safety of the riders and horses when training along this part of the Gallops. Any sudden noise or movement from the application site that could cause them to spook suddenly, could have serious consequences. In short, Godolphin is strongly opposed to the Sunnica Scheme which will have a hugely detrimental impact on the racing industry in this historic setting. It should not go ahead. If it has to proceed, the planting and construction constraints listed above must be implemented.