QPR Given Green Light to Build New Training Ground Complex

English Championship club Queens Park Rangers have been granted permission to build their multi-million pound training ground and academy HQ.

The venture on Warren Farm sports ground was approved after an application for a judicial review was rejected by a High Court judge. 

Judge Justice Lewis rejected all claims made by Hanwell Community Forum who opposed QPR’s development, which covers over 61 acres of London’s Green Belt, for being ‘unlawful on several grounds’.

Lewis also confirmed that the council acted appropriately in granting the club planning permission to redevelop the site and awarded QPR’s costs of £5,000 against Hanwell Community Forum, who now have a week in which to seek an oral hearing to ask that the judge’s decision is reconsidered.

Councillor Julian Bell, leader of the council, said: “We are pleased with the High Court’s decision to reject the application for a judicial review and, with QPR set to invest millions of pounds into the community sports facilities, I’m confident we’ve secured the best deal for local people.

“Once the site is up-and-running, QPR will implement a significant community sports development programme focuses on encouraging local people, particularly young women, older people and people with disabilities, to get involved in sport. The club will also be responsible for on-going maintenance of the new facilities, with no cost to taxpayers or the council.”

Under the plans, QPR will build a new multi-million pound community sports complex alongside its elite training facility, which will provide a base for the club’s training academy as well as give local people access to high-quality community and sports facilities.

QPR’s chief operating officer, Mark Donnelly, added: “We are pleased with the outcome from the High Court and welcome the news that the application for a judicial review has been rejected,” Donnelly said.

“We look forward to continue working closely with Ealing Council on this project.”