The High Court has quashed planning permission for Tottenham Hotspur to build a football academy at Whitewebbs Park, following a judicial review challenge, Enfield Council has announced.
The ruling relates to the former Whitewebbs Park Golf Club site, where the club had planned to develop a training academy.
Enfield Council's new administration had withdrawn from defending the judicial review, arguing that continuing to defend it would not serve residents' interests.
Council leader Cllr Alessandro Georgiou said the administration had pledged to protect the park from what he called ‘unacceptable development’ and welcomed the court's decision to quash the permission.
The council says it will now develop new plans for the site that reflect the local community's needs while preserving the green space for public use.
Responding to the judgement, a spokesperson for the football club 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 spokesperson added: '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.'
