Member Article

Campaigners hope to halt ‘vitally important’ QPR training ground development with legal challenge

Championship football club QPR’s new training ground development could potentially be facing a legal challenge after local residents and environmental campaigners launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise funds for court action.

Opponents say that, were it to go ahead, the new 60-acre site at Warren Farm would not be environmentally friendly and that the proposed development does not take into account the needs of residents.

The Save Warren Farm Campaign has set a target of £15,000 to help raise a legal challenge against the development, led by solicitors DH Law Limited.

QPR were granted a 200-year lease to develop the land last year by Ealing Council with plans including private offices, accommodation, VIP suites and 700 parking spaces, in plans that the club have deemed ‘vitally important’ to their future development.

However, campaigners have argued that the handing over of such a lengthy lease which does not include any significant annual rent returning to the borough, plus the environmental impact of the scheme, has been carried out for the sole benefit of an elite football club owned by billionaires’.

Rheian Davies of DH Law Limited said: “It is shocking that this public land has been given away so cheaply and with so little legal protection for the community.”

However, Councillor Bassam Mahfouz argued that the council’s agreement with the football club will benefit the local community, with QPR pledging new community facilities as part of the development.

He said: “The agreement with QPR is an excellent deal for residents which will see the club invest millions into new facilities for the community.

“One of our priorities is to make Ealing a healthier place to live. It is disappointing that a judicial review has been made. We will continue to fight for these facilities.”

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