Spurs plans for Whitewebbs Park in tatters after judge quashes planning permission

The judicial review verdict comes after a change of leadership at Enfield Council, which now opposes the Spurs plans for a training centre on the park, reports James Cracknell

Whitewebbs Park with (inset left) council leader Alessandro Georgiou and (inset right) the campaign to save it

Tottenham Hotspur’s plans to build on Whitwebbs Park have likely been dealt a fatal blow after a judge quashed the planning permission previously granted by Enfield Council.

Following a two-day judicial review in June which the council decided not to defend after the Conservatives took power in May, the judge has issued a ruling in which he quashes the decision under the previous Labour administration to approve the plans for a women’s and girls’ training centre on the park.

The case had been brought by the Guardians of Whitewebbs local campaign group, which argued at the High Court that the decision to award planning permission to Spurs last year had been unlawful. Their case was also backed by Dame Judi Dench.

In a statement this morning (Monday 27th), Alessandro Georgiou said: “This new administration pledged to protect Whitewebbs Park from unacceptable development and ensure it remains accessible for local residents and communities to enjoy. That is why we withdrew from defending this Judicial Review, as such a defence would not have been in the best interests of residents across the borough.

“We are delighted that the High Court has allowed this judicial review and quashed the planning permission granted for the proposed training academy at Whitewebbs Park.

“We said we would protect Whitewebbs Park from this unacceptable proposal and we will now move forward with plans that reflect the needs of the local community and also preserve and protect this important area of Enfield.”

The Dispatch understands that the council now intends to work closely with Tottenham Hotspur to find an alternative site in the borough for the women’s and girls’ training academy.

In a statement, Tottenham Hotspur said: “We are disappointed by today’s High Court judgment concerning the planning permission for our proposed Women’s and Girls’ Training Centre at Whitewebbs.

“The court’s decision concerns the legal process followed by Enfield Council in granting planning permission, rather than the planning merits of the proposed development itself.

“We continue to believe the proposals would deliver significant benefits for Enfield by safeguarding Whitewebbs as a green space, improving access to nature, restoring important heritage assets, creating new facilities for local residents, community groups and sports clubs whilst delivering a lasting legacy for women’s and girls’ sport.

“The development would create a world-leading Women’s and Girls’ Training Centre, helping to establish Enfield as a leading destination for the women’s and girls’ game. Alongside elite facilities, it would create new opportunities for girls across the borough to play and develop through expanded coaching, education and community programmes, while providing a visible pathway from grassroots football to the very highest levels of the game.

“We remain committed to Enfield and to continuing the work we have undertaken in the borough for many years through investment in sport, education and community programmes. We will now consider the judgement carefully and determine our next steps.”

The judicial review claim by Guardians of Whitewebbs, against the council’s planning decision last year, succeeded on the ground that the council had breached transparency provisions relating to applications, resulting in “material prejudice”, and had “misled” the planning committee about an ecology officer’s views on how the Tottenham Hotspur development would impact on local biodiversity.

Benny Hawksbee, chair of Guardians of Whitewebbs, said: “We are delighted with this outcome. We would like to thank our incredible community who generously funded this case; the Public Interest Law Centre [PILC]; our solicitor Harriet Child and our incredible barristers Jenny Wigley KC, Alex Shattock and Claudia Hyde, who have gone above and beyond to put our case; the judge Sir Timothy Kerr for his fair judgment, and the community campaign groups Save Whitewebbs and Friends of Whitewebbs Park.

“Together, we have saved Whitewebbs Park for wildlife and future generations.

“We triumphed against the odds, against a greedy football club worth billions, but this should never have happened. There were clearly failures in assessing the value and biodiversity of Whitewebbs Park, and an emphasis on serving a football club over the local community, their wishes and their right to enjoy Whitewebbs Park in perpetuity.

“We hope wherever the new council and Spurs have planned for the facility going forward is not public or green space in Enfield and the local community is fully consulted. Nature is not for sale and needs to be protected more than ever!”

Harriet Child, solicitor at PILC, said: “I hope the huge amounts of money and time wasted on this attempt to take over a public park will be a warning to councils and companies that residents care deeply about public open spaces and will fight hard to keep them. Enfield Council was so intent on pressing ahead with a deeply unpopular plan to lease a large area of this historic park that they misled their own planning committee.

“Now, the previous administration has been voted out and the decision has been quashed by the Court. The new administration has an opportunity to work with residents and preserve Whitewebbs Park for the next 100 years and beyond.”

The full judicial review verdict can be read online:
Visit caselaw.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ewhc/admin/2026/1916

Local news needs your support

We are proud that we were at the forefront of reporting on the recent local elections. We can’t do this without the support of our readers.

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.

ACT NOW!

Monthly direct debit

Annual direct debit

£5 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else, £10 per month supporters get a digital copy of each month’s paper before anyone else and a print copy posted to them each month. £50 annual supporters get a digital copy of each month's paper before anyone else.