Horwich Town Council has completed the purchase of the Horwich RMI Recreational Land and Cricket Pavilion, bringing the historic ground into public ownership.
The £325,000 acquisition was funded through a loan from Bolton Council, following formal borrowing approval from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Initial talks around the purchase began in 2023, with a full public consultation launched in 2025.
Horwich Cricket Club will continue to use the ground as their home under a lease agreement, and the recreation ground will remain available for a range of sporting and community events.
The council said a key motivation for the purchase was protecting the site from potential future development, safeguarding it for generations to come.
The council thanked everyone involved in the process for their ‘time, dedication and effort’ throughout what it described as a momentous occasion in the council's history.
