Tottenham Hotspur academy permission quashed after council backs out of judicial review

The London borough’s planning committee resolved to grant permission to build the facility - which will include 11 football training pitches - in February 2025. Final planning permission was granted in July.

The development would have seen a disused golf course in Whitewebbs Park, Enfield, converted to training grounds for the Premier League football club.

But the High Court has now decided to quash the planning permission, the council has said.

The club previously said the proposed facilities would have provided a “once in a generation opportunity to create a regionally significant asset for Enfield” and that around 80% of the site would remain publicly accessible.

However, the residents' group behind the claim, 'Guardians of Whitewebbs Park', argued the council’s decision was flawed.

The High Court agreed to hear the group’s claim in February this year on the following grounds:

• Enfield Council breached the Local Government Act 1972 in relation to the transparency of planning committee meetings and misled the planning committee on the issue of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG).
• The officer’s report misinterpreted and/or misapplied DMD Policy 84 on new development within Areas of Special Character.
• The council misinterpreted and/or misapplied DMD Policy 44 on conserving and enhancing heritage assets.
• The council erred in its consideration of impacts on the openness of the Green Belt.

Commenting on the litigation in February, the then Labour-run council said it was confident it had followed the proper legal processes and procedures in determining the application.

It also said the development would bring significant benefits to the local community, including the protection and enhancement of the park and woods and investment in new facilities.

In an update this week, Enfield’s Conservative leader said his administration had decided to withdraw from the litigation.

Cllr Alessandro Georgiou, who took office in May, 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 defense would not have been in the best interests of residents across the borough.”

He also confirmed that the High Court had allowed the judicial review and quashed the training academy’s planning permission.

Adam Carey