Campaigners Say Warren Farm Application is 'Dangerous Precedent'

As QPR submits new scheme to build training facility on local land

Local residents say they will continue to fight QPR's plans for a new training ground at Warren Farm.

Planning permission was agreed for the site in December 2013 and local campaign group Save Warren Farm took the battle against the development to the High Court but lost.

They argue that 61 acres of public land worth £31.5million, is being 'gifted' to a commercial organisation for 200 years rent free.

QPR— facing likely relegation from the Premier League - has now submitted new plans and said it hopes to win planning permission for the centre at Warren Farm, near Hanwell, by the summer.

The club wants a new training centre to house the first team and the Academy with a dedicated QPR building including gym, medical, performance analysis, education, office and changing facilities.

They say there will also be a community sports facility in the development including a new pavilion providing changing facilities and a new multi-purpose social space.

As well as grass pitches, the facility will also have a 3G pitch, an indoor 3G pitch and cricket square

Les Ferdinand, QPR's director of football, said: “We are working closely with Populous (a global architectural firm specializing in the design of sports facilities) and Ealing council to ensure QPR has a state-of-the-art facility that brings the first team, academy and community together in a unique hub. QPR has always been a club that takes pride in its local community and we will ensure that bond is strengthened with this exciting move to Warren Farm.”

However, a spokesman for the Save Warren Farm campaign group said: ''Ealing Council claim to have consulted with the local community and user groups and this increasingly appears to be a false claim. Instead, they are proceeding with giving away 61 acres of public open land for 200 years with an estimated value of around £30 million to a club owned by millionaires and billionaires.

“The land will be fenced off, local people will be denied access to subsidise a club that has massive deficits and is expected to be hit by a fine of up to £50 million once a long-overdue financial fair play judgment is released.

“This is a massive abuse of responsibility by elected officials and a local authority. Furthermore, the club is being signed up to deliver activities for the community that it simply will not be able to deliver or afford.  Everyone in London needs to be very wary of what their local authority is doing; this is a very dangerous precedent which local will continue to fight.

Ealing Council say QPR planning documents are currently being validated by officers. The normal planning process will be followed and, once validation has finished, planning notices will be sent out as part of the statutory consultation.

May 8, 2015