QPR announce victory in battle over new training ground
QPR have welcomed the news that the Supreme Court has rejected a final appeal by objectors to QPR’s building of a training ground at Warren Farm.
West London Sport recently revealed that three of the 12 Supreme Court Justices would shortly consider the ‘permission to appeal’ application and decide whether the case would be heard by the Supreme Court.
The application has been rejected, meaning there will not be a Supreme Court hearing which would probably have further delayed the long-running legal battle by at least another nine months.
Julian Bell, the leader of Ealing Council, said on Twitter that the decision was “excellent news.”
Excellent news from the #UK #SupremeCourt today as it rules against a final appeal by #Hanwell Community Forum. @EalingCouncil, @QPR & @QPRtrust can finally get on with providing a multimillion £ community sports facility at no cost to council tax payers! #CommonSensePrevails pic.twitter.com/fwEbYJuHbR
— Julian Bell (@juliangbell) October 31, 2018
West London Sport revealed in April that the Court of Appeal’s verdict would lead to a Supreme Court appeal, with objectors determined to carry on their legal fight.
Objectors were challenging a Court of Appeal judicial review which upheld Ealing Council’s initial granting of planning permission.
QPR chief executive Lee Hoos told the club website: “We’re delighted that all legal avenues to frustrate this process have now been exhausted.
“A new training ground, which brings together the first team and the academy, is an important part of a strategic long-term plan for the club.
“The delays have been very frustrating. Not only have they delayed us securing a new training ground for the club but they have delayed the huge community benefit to residents from improved sports facilities and the programmes that QPR in the Community Trust will run at Warren Farm.
“We look forward to engaging with Ealing residents, sports clubs and the council about those facilities and programmes as construction gets underway.”
It is approaching seven years since West London Sport first revealed QPR wanted to build a training ground at Warren Farm.
And it is four years since West London Sport revealed Rangers had scaled down their plans, having considered scrapping the project altogether.
