The Premier League club wants to open a women’s and girls’ academy at the park after being chosen by Enfield Council to take on a lease

Tottenham Hotspur Football Club (THFC) has invited Enfield residents to attend a series of public exhibitions where they can discuss its plans for Whitewebbs Park.

Hundreds of leaflets going through people’s doors in the roads around the park invite them to attend three events at the beginning of November.

This summer it was confirmed that THFC would be taking on a 25-year lease for more than half of Whitewebbs Park, primarily comprising the area that used to be Whitewebbs Park Golf Course, but also including an area of adjoining woodland.

However, the lease is contingent on the club receiving planning permission for its women’s and girls’ academy, which would take up an area representing 18% of the overall park.

Ahead of submitting its planning application, likely to be next year, THFC says it is keen to hear local people’s views. On its leaflet published this week, the club explains: “We are still developing our designs for the site, and we now really want to hear from local residents – those who we hope will use the woods, new parkland, café, and training and educational facilities.”

The Whitewebbs Park lease, closure of the golf course and plans for the football academy, have all proven highly controversial so far, with local opposition centred around the loss of access to part of the park. Multiple protests have been staged outside council meetings, while Sean Wilkinson, chair of the Friends of Whitewebbs Park group, is also pursuing legal action.

Spurs and the council have not denied that the plans for the site will amount to a reduction in public open space, but claim that this will be mitigated by proposals to enhance the other parts of the park that will come under THFC’s control once the lease commences.

The leaflet says: “Our proposals met the council’s objectives of securing this unique site’s future with a green use and also responded to local aspirations for enhanced access to nature and improved public facilities.

“The site presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create a regionally significant asset for Enfield and we very much welcome the opportunity to meet this challenge. As a leading professional sports club and adjoining landowner, we offer a unique combination of a passion for sport, leisure, education and inclusivity; an understanding of the local area; a track record of delivering schemes to the highest standards and a demonstrable respect for conservation and the environment. We hope you can join us at one of our public events.”

The exhibitions are taking place at Toby Carvery, at Whitewebbs House in Whitewebbs Lane, on Wednesday 1st (3pm-7pm), Wednesday 8th (3pm-7pm) and Saturday 11th November (11am-3pm).

While more information will be made available at the exhibitions, the THFC leaflet states the club will provide “a new home and best-in-class women and girls’ football academy” alongside “new public facilities, including a café, information point and repaired pond” as well as a proposal to “transform Conduit House into a bird-watching platform”.

A planning application for the site is now being drawn up by THFC, but will not be submitted before the club has completed its public consultation exercise, with views and ideas from local people being encouraged.

The leaflet adds: “Whitewebbs Wood would be owned and managed by Enfield Council. We would provide funds for repairs, signage and formalised bridleways. We are also proposing to restore around half of the former golf course to historic parkland.”

Regarding his legal action, which relates to the council’s decision to issue the 25-year lease to THFC, Sean Wilkinson said: “I have lodged an application for permission to seek judicial review with the High Court. Enfield and Tottenham Hotspur have lodged their responses and the application is now pending before the court.”

For more information on the public consultation and exhibition events:
Call 0800 092 0422
Email [email protected]
Visit tottenhamhotspur.com/whitewebbs

This article has been corrected to state that Sean Wilkinson is taking legal action against the council rather than the Friends of Whitewebbs Park group, which he chairs.

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