The development of a new Warren Farm Sports Centre in Southall has sparked a mixed reaction after it was given the go-ahead from the Mayor's Office.
On Thursday (October 8), the Mayor of London's Deputy Sir Edward Lister decided that the decision by Ealing Council to approve QPR's application should stand.
Plans for the public sports complex, expected to cost around £2m, will include new football and cricket pitches, an artificial turf pitch, multi-use games areas and changing rooms.
But the decision drew criticism from Save Warren Farm campaigners, who fought to prevent the development on the grounds it would cause environmental harm.
Solicitor Rheian Davies, who represented the campaign, said: "The office of the Mayor is charged with a legal duty to protect London's green lungs - it's Metropolitan Open Land.
"My client's are deeply disappointed at Boris Johnson's failure to intervene in a plan that will build on and enclose 61 acres of Metropolitan Open Land, remove a breeding ground for Little Owls and, most astonishingly of all, allow the dumping of thousands of tonnes of landfill on this community green space, so much so that they will now need a filter to try and stop whatever is in that landfill, from reaching the canal and the River Brent.
"More troubling is that this has all been done without an Environmental Impact Assessment.
"Our firm will be examining the legality of this decision on behalf of the community very closely."
Her criticism was echoed by the Green Party who claim the Mayor has made a "mockery" of his own planning policies.
Party member Darren Johnson said: “By waving this through, the Mayor not only disregarded and made a mockery of his own planning policies, but in effect has sent a signal out that it’s ‘open season’ for the disposal of other protected green spaces in London.
“The Mayor’s disgraceful decision will provide no benefits to the local community who lose two thirds of this 61 acre site they previously had open access to."
But chair of Norwood Green Residents' Association, Tony Young, hit back at the Green Party, saying the decision is of great benefit to a site he described as a "mess".
Asked about the Green Party's claim it would offer no benefit to the community, he said: "That is such a lie, there are huge benefits for the local community and this makes me so angry with the Green Party.
"Right now it is just a mess and as a result of that less people are using it anyway, we're talking about a £20m investment so of course it is something that should be applauded."
