FIRST it was shop owners in Shepherd's Bush, now residents on the threatened West Kensington and Gibbs Green Estates want to fight Hammersmith and Fulham Council in the High Court to secure their futures.
Last month, traders in Goldhawk Road scored a legal victory over the authority, persuading a judge the council's method of adopting a document outlining its vision to regenerate Shepherd's Bush Market and knock down their historic shops was unlawful.
Estate residents have been inspired to launch their own legal proceedings concerning the authority's bid to knock down their homes as part of the proposed regeneration of Earls Court.
Lawyers allege the plans fail to meet affordable housing targets, do not to take into account the effect on ethnic minority groups, are in breach of the council's core strategy and break environmental directives. They believe there is a case for a judicial review.
Nearly 800 homes would go if the council wins permission for the project, which involves four new 'urban villages' of homes and amenities, Despite promising to build replacement homes nearby, many residents are against the scheme. Jonathan Rosenberg, of the People's Estates campaign, said neighbours were buoyed by the Goldhawk Road traders, and will use the same legal team for their own case.
"Our friends and allies on the other side of the borough scored a fine victory, which definitely gives us confidence," said Mr Rosenberg. "Our lawyers are confident we have a case."
The legal proceedings have also been served on the other interested parties in the development, Kensington and Chelsea Council, Transport for London, developers CAPCO and the Greater London Authority. The bodies have 21 days to respond to the notice.
The scheme, which could be rubber-stamped within months if the interested parties sign a conditional land sale document with the developers, has been hit by a number of controversies. Earlier this year, two major Hong Kong-based investors in the project were arrested in their homeland for corruption, while question marks have been raised over the financial ability of EC Properties, a subsidiary of CAPCO, to deliver the project. And residents accused the council of railroading through planning permission for the first part of the scheme, to build 800 new homes in Seagrave Road.
The authority says many residents will be glad to move to brand new homes in what it calls a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity to transform the area.
A spokesman said: "We have just received notification of this claim and the matter is currently being considered by our lawyers."
