QPR training ground plans challenged in High Court

A computer-generated image of QPR's proposed new training ground at Warren Farm Archant

Campaigners fighting Ealing Council’s decision to approve plans for QPR’s proposed new £30 million training ground have lodged a judicial review in the High Court.

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Ealing councillors last summer voted in favour of granting permission for the development of 61 acres of land for a training academy and facilities on Warren Farm in Hanwell.

Residents, led by members of the Hanwell Community Forum, say that decision is “illegal”, and oppose on the grounds that the area is designated Metropolitan Open Land. They have also raised questions over the impartiality of councillors handling the decision.

Carolyn Brown, chair of the forum, said: “Ealing plans to give away this valuable green space, currently dedicated in its entirety to community sport, for seven generations.

“I order to help justify this deal Ealing Council has valued this land at between £1.8m and £2.5m, the equivalent of a single large house in central Ealing, and what we understand to be only six to seven per cent of its true market value.”

Ealing Council leader Julian Bell has already refuted suggestions that the site was ‘gifted’ to QPR, and insisted the decision was “sound and based on proper planning conditions”.

But campaigners say that a reduced community space would be inadequate to hold the large sports tournaments which have previously been held there.