Ealing Council’s defence against an appeal to the Supreme Court in relation to Warren Farm sports ground has been successful.
The Supreme Court rejected the application by Hanwell Community Forum seeking permission to appeal the order made by the Court of Appeal on 23 March 2018. Both the High Court and the Court of Appeal had previously confirmed that the council acted appropriately in granting Queen’s Park Rangers Football Club (QPR) planning permission.
QPR is investing millions of pounds into community facilities and a comprehensive community sports programme, which will significantly improve local people’s access to sport.
The council says it looks forward to seeing this project get off the ground so that people can start using the community facilities as quickly as possible.
Councillor Julian Bell, Leader of Ealing Council said: “The plans for Warren Farm will see millions of pounds invested in community sports facilities.The delays to this project have been disappointing, particularly as the challenge had previously been turned down by the High Court and the Court of Appeal before the Supreme Court found in our favour this week. We remain committed to working alongside QPR to ensure that these plans go ahead.
“I am confident that we have secured the best deal for local people at no cost to local council tax payers save for the legal costs spent defending the council’s decisions. Once the site is up-and-running, QPR will implement a significant community sports development programme which focuses on encouraging local people, particularly young women, older people and people with disabilities, to get involved in sport.”
QPR CEO Lee Hoos added: “We’re delighted that all legal avenues to frustrate this process have now been exhausted.
“A new training ground, which brings together the first team and the academy, is an important part of a strategic long-term plan for the club.
“The delays have been very frustrating. Not only have they delayed us securing a new training ground for the club but they have delayed the huge community benefit to residents from improved sports facilities and the programmes that QPR in the Community Trust will run at Warren Farm.
“We look forward to engaging with Ealing residents, sports clubs and the council about those facilities and programmes as construction gets underway.”
