Plans to build 250 new homes in the Derbyshire town of Ashbourne face growing opposition from event organisers and residents who warn the development threatens the town's historic Royal Shrovetide Football game.
Developer Hallam Land Management has earmarked 35 acres of pastoral farmland off Green Road for the residential project. However, local organisers claim the site sits directly across traditional play lines for the centuries-old match.
Steve Jones, the secretary of the Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football Committee, has formally written to the local council to oppose the planning application. Jones warned that the housing scheme could inflict significant harm on Ashbourne's most important cultural and economic assets.
Jones highlighted that the proposed construction site lies close to Sturston Mill, one of the two traditional goalposts used during the event. He warned that building homes in that area would obstruct a large proportion of the active gameplay area.
According to Jones, encroaching on the play area would fundamentally undermine the continued operation of the game in its historic form and reduce its attraction to visitors. He stated that damage to the event would cause direct economic harm to the town through knock-on effects on local tourism and trade.
Local petition and community reaction
Public resistance to the project is mounting across the town, where a petition opposing the housing plans has gathered more than 670 signatures. Petition organisers state that the development poses an irreversible threat to Ashbourne's heritage.
Petition organiser Brett O'Connell told the BBC that the proposed housing plot cuts straight across the routes players take during the match. O'Connell acknowledged that developers plan to set aside a portion of the site as open space, but warned that incoming residents would still face major disruptions on game days because play does not follow planned routes.
Hallam Land Management has defended its proposals, maintaining that the development will deliver a sensitively designed residential addition to Ashbourne. In a planning document submitted for the project, the developer stated that the site's various constraints and opportunities had been carefully considered.
Centuries of mob football history
Royal Shrovetide Football is one of the few surviving examples of medieval mob football in Britain, a traditional form of the game played across towns before modern football rules were codified in the nineteenth century. While the Ashbourne match formally originated in 1667, local roots trace back to the twelfth century.
The game takes place annually over two days on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, marking the start of Lent. Teams are divided by birth geography relative to Henmore Brook, a stream running through the center of Ashbourne. Players born north of the brook compete for the Up'Ards, while those born to the south play for the Down'Ards.
Unlike modern sports, the match has no conventional pitch or fixed boundary lines. Play starts each day at 2:00 pm and continues until 10:00 pm. The two goals, located at Sturston Mill and Clifton Mill, stand three miles apart at opposite ends of the town.
Competitors rely on physical force to push a specially constructed four-pound ball toward their respective goals. The ball is filled with cork to ensure it floats if knocked into Henmore Brook. Each game begins when a respected local figure, known as the turner-up, throws the ball into the crowd. King Charles III is among the notable figures who have served as turner-up in past years.
Local protection and future decision
Despite the chaotic nature of the spectacle, players must observe specific boundaries. Rules strictly prohibit play inside churchyards, cemeteries, and other places of worship. In addition, organisers previously introduced a ban on motorized vehicles to prevent players from transporting the ball by car.
The fixture remains a central highlight of Ashbourne's annual calendar, drawing thousands of spectators and players into the town center. Local businesses regularly prepare for the event by boarding up storefronts, including the local Boots pharmacy, which installs full-length chipboard covers over its entrance ahead of kickoff. The local council will consider the planning application and public objections before making a final decision on the housing scheme.
