Newson's Timber Yard: High Court upholds decision to redevelop country's oldest timber yard

The High Court has upheld Westminster City Council's decision to grant permission for Grosvenor Estates to develop the country's oldest timber yard.

The property group's plan was to develop Newson's Timber Yard into two 10,000sq ft retail spaces and modern luxury flats but in 1998 the site was taken over by Travis Perkins, which opposes the proposed development.

On Tuesday (October 31) a judicial review took place into whether the decision made by the council is still valid.

The decision to uphold the ruling was made at 2pm on Friday (November 3).

Councillor Jason Williams, who represents Labour in the Churchill Ward said: "We’re very disappointed the High Court have come to this decision.

"Local residents are overwhelmingly in favour of keeping the timber yard, it is not right that their objections have not been taken into account."

The site on Pimlico Road was opened by entrepreneur John Newson in 1845 and has supplied the RHS Chelsea Flower Show along with providing materials used to build the Belgravia we see today.

Martin Meech, group property director at Travis Perkins plc, said: "We are deeply disappointed with the High Court’s decision and we are considering our options to appeal.

"This is yet another example of a major London landowner ignoring the needs and wishes of the local community.

"It serves as a reminder of the threat to essential services in the capital, such as builders’ merchants, which are increasingly getting swept aside in favour of the wrong types of development."

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