Save Warren Farm campaigners have applied to register all of the land as an Asset of Community Value under the Localism Act.

In a concerted bid to retain Warren Farm in its entirety for community use, campaigners are determined to prove that the park "furthers the social wellbeing and social interests of the community, including cultural, sporting or recreational interests", currently or in the recent past.

Until September 2013, Warren Farm’s sports pitches, located between Norwood Green and Hanwell in the south of the borough, were maintained by Ealing Council and used by schools and local clubs.

Access to the land continues for informal recreation, leisure, and education.

The land, designated as both Metropolitan Open Land (MOL) and Community Open Space, is subject to a second planning application by QPR Holdings Ltd, yet to be determined by the planning committee, to build their academy and training facility.

In a decision dated January 2015, on an earlier application made by Hanwell Community Forum, Ealing Council determined that only around one third of Warren Farm could be registered as an Asset of Community Value.

The council claimed that all 61-acres did not qualify as an asset because the space to be retained by QPR as their training and academy facility would no longer further the social wellbeing or social interests of the community.

Save Warren Farm campaigners challenge this decision on several grounds.

Decision to be made

Malcolm Weller, who led the submission on behalf of Warren Farm campaigners, said: “Firstly, both QPR and Ealing have always claimed that the community would have use of the all-weather pitch and indoor sports hall when QPR did not need it.

“Both of these facilities, along with the majority of the community and disabled parking, fall within the ‘QPR’ area of the site and should also be included in the Asset registration.

“Secondly, in the revised planning application, the small community pavilion with changing facilities is located, not adjacent to the community pitches as in the original plans, but attached to the indoor sports hall, and so would also be in the ‘QPR’ space.

“This should also be protected as an Asset of Community Value.”

Rheian Davies, the campaign’s solicitor and legal advisor, said: “The 200-year lease applies to the whole of Warren Farm including the third that has already been classified as an asset of community value.

“There is no reason why the whole of Warren Farm cannot be classified as such.

“Freehold properties which can be held indefinitely are not excluded from the provisions of the Act.

“The point of the Act is that if the land is registered as an Asset and it becomes available, then the community would have the right to bid to stop the land being lost to community use.

"Under the terms of the lease, QPR would be allowed to mortgage all 61-acres of the land without further permission from Ealing Council or consultation with the public.

“If not secured by status as an Asset of Community Value, Warren Farm may be sub-let or the lease sold on to another party without giving the community the opportunity to manage the site for its own benefit.

"As a result, the land may become subdivided, lose its status as MOL and become subject to undesirable changes in use which no longer further the social wellbeing or social interests of the community.”

A council spokesman said: “We have received a second application to list part of Warren farm as an Asset of Community Value under the Localism Act and this will be determined shortly.”