The football club has been given the green light to fence off a section of Whitewebbs Park in Enfield and build a new women’s academy
Megan Howe
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Tottenham Hotspur has been given the green light by City Hall to build a new training ground for their women’s team, despite strong opposition from campaigners who claim the development would destroy a treasured park.
The football club can now move forward with its plans to fence off a section of Whitewebbs Park in Enfield and build a new women’s academy, with 11 pitches and a new clubhouse.
A City Hall spokesperson said “while the proposal represents inappropriate development on the green belt, very special circumstances have been demonstrated”.
Enfield Council approved the plans in February, despite 296 objections, with some residents raising concerns about the impact on wildlife and restricting access to a community space.
The plans had been described as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” by Spurs striker Bethany England, insisting the facilities would allow the club to compete with the top women’s teams.
A judicial review was launched and over £18,000 was raised to challenge the council’s approval of the plans.
But on Monday (July 14), Jules Pipe, the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Regeneration, ruled that Enfield Council could proceed with deciding the application for a women’s and girls’ football academy.
Campaign group Guardians of Whitewebbs said they were “devastated” by the decision made by City Hall, stating it would be a “massive loss” for both nature and the community.
"We are devastated by the decision made by the Deputy Mayor, Jules Pipe, on behalf of the Mayor to allow Spurs to take over our precious public park,” they said.
“This will be a massive loss, both for nature and community. We stand to lose sixteen hectares of grassland habitat, over 207 trees and countless species that call this park home.
Spurs will build 11 football pitches as part of a new facility for their women’s team at a beloved park in Enfield
Enfield Council
“This loss is completely unnecessary when male and female footballers could share the seventeen elite football pitches Spurs already own - just across the road - pitches also built on the Green Belt in Enfield.
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“If the club wishes to segregate men and women, unlike other Premiership clubs, they should build on private grey land, not public green space. In issuing the decision, Pipe acknowledges this industrial-scale development does not comply with the London Plan.
“We now know that this policy was, sadly, just a piece of paper.
“It seems no parks in the capital are safe from inappropriate development by wealthy companies, even as we face a climate and ecological emergency. Spurs and Enfield Council can claim huge public benefits but the community have completely rejected their plans.
“The club has given nothing to local people but a series of empty promises. What we want is our nature-rich park, nothing else, and we will not give up trying to save it from greed."
Sean Wilkinson, who lives 15 minutes from the park and walks his dog there every day, previously told the Standard: “We are losing access to about half the open land in the park.
“This is public land. It was bought for the people of Enfield back in 1931. What Spurs are offering is doesn’t amount to very much. This is all for the benefit of Spurs.”
The north Londoner insisted that the “Spurs fortress of football” was going to destroy a beautiful park.
He continued: “It’s a very popular park. It’s space that is in short supply. The people who actually use the park are going to be barred from it.”
The Leader of Enfield Council, Cllr Ergin Erbil, said: “We welcome the news that, as anticipated, the Mayor of London has decided not to call in the plans submitted by Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.
“This important step will see the exciting vision for Whitewebbs Park move forward. The plans include improved access to nature, improvements to the park including more tree planting and good facilities such as a café.
“It also paves the way for the creation of new community and sports facilities, including a best-in-class women’s and girls’ football academy that will inspire future generations.”
A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “In making his decision on the Stage 2 referral, the Deputy Mayor took account of all representations received, in addition to the GLA officers' detailed assessment of the proposal and strategic planning issues.
“As part of the latter, consideration was given to the fact that while the proposal represents inappropriate development on the green belt, very special circumstances have been demonstrated and a package of public benefits secured which outweigh the harm.”
A spokesperson for Tottenham Hotspur said they were unable to comment on the ruling.
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