Premier League club to build on £2m ancient woodland - but locals left furious

CAMPAIGNERS are fuming over plans by a giant Premier League club to convert part of an ancient woodland into a sport's facility.

Lovers of Whitewebbs Park in Enfield, north London , have protested the project by Tottenham Hotspur , which aims to build a new women's academy with 11 football pitches and a clubhouse.

4 Campaigners fear that Spurs' plans will 'destroy' the park Credit: Facebook/Guardians of Whitewebbs park

4 The ancient woodland is popular among local residents Credit: Getty

4 Spurs are aiming to build their new facility (in red boundaries) to fit alongside their existing Hotspur Way training ground (in blue boundaries) Credit: Enfield Council

4 Tottenham's plans include the construction of 11 new pitches and a clubhouse, primarily on a space occupied by a former public golf course which closed in 2021 Credit: Enfield Council

Not only do locals want to protect the "beautiful" green space, but they have also pointed out that Spurs already have more than 15 pitches just over the road at their Hotspur Way centre.

Tottenham argue the development would "improve local access to nature and habitats, and provide new facilities for visitors, community groups, and sports clubs".

Enfield Council approved the construction of the site - which campaigners say will destroy the park - in February, with City Hall giving the scheme the all-clear last month.

Caroline Day, who lives one borough over from the site, told Metro she was fuming at the plans.

The park user said she's "willing to make the journey to Whitewebbs as it is such a beautiful bit of space" but fears Spurs are "using the growing interest in women's football as an excuse to destroy a park."

She added: "In every way ethically, they are lacking compared with the other clubs."

Tottenham will pay £2 million for a 25-year lease of 53 hectares of the park, allowing them to build their floodlit pitches on the ancient woodland.

The park was bought by Middlesex Council in 1931 and Spurs are hoping to develop part of the green space that was previously a publicly accessible golf course.

The council shut the golf venue down in 2021, saying it had been losing money .

Campaigners say the project will lead to the loss of 16 hectares of green space, with 207 adult trees having to be chopped down, meaning some animal species not native to anywhere else in London will vanish.

Furious locals have now referred to Spurs as "vulture capitalists" for wanting to build on the land home to ancient trees and rare species of wildlife and vegetation.

After Spurs was handed the lease by Enfield Council, locals, including campaign group Guardian of Whitewebb, took the council to the High Court to challenge what they argued was an unlawful closure of a public space.

Activists argue the new development would not benefit the community at all, despite Spurs' claims, saying it will only tear up their ancient woodland.

Some Spurs fans have even withdrawn their membership in protest against the plans.

One donor to a crowdfunder aiming to help campaigners fight a second legal battle against the club and council said: "Enfield Council should be ashamed of themselves and so should Spurs, I will withdraw my membership."

Local resident Faith said: "My parents were from Enfield and they talked about Whitewebbs Park. I donate in their memory.

"My husband is a Spurs fan – he is not going to support them anymore."

A lot of our supporters are Spurs fans who feel let down by a club they have put so much energy into supporting

Caroline said: "We have tried to embody the saying in our fight against them.

"A lot of our supporters are Spurs fans who feel let down by a club they have put so much energy into supporting."

The campaigners are hoping to fund a successful legal battle to have the plans withdrawn, with the Guardians of Whitewebbs group describing the situation as "devastating".

When City Hall approved the development last month, it said that despite the proposal representing "inappropriate development on the green belt, very special circumstances have been demonstrated".

Campaigners are hoping to raise £30,000 to fund the urgent judicial review of Enfield Council's decision.

At time of writing, more than £23,000 has already been raised, with 14 days of the campaign left to go.

After City Hall gave the development the green light, the Leader of Enfield Council, Cllr Ergin Erbil, said: "We welcome the news that, as anticipated, the Mayor of London has decided not to call in the plans submitted by Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.

"This important step will see the exciting vision for Whitewebbs Park move forward. The plans include improved access to nature, improvements to the park including more tree planting and good facilities such as a café.

"It also paves the way for the creation of new community and sports facilities, including a best-in-class women’s and girls’ football academy that will inspire future generations."

Tottenham's plans to place the new academy next to the existing men's facility would allow about 11,000 square metres of facilities to be shared, reducing new building work and carbon emissions.

The new scheme will also include a community engagement plan for local football training for around 36,700 hours each year, and free transport to community training for schools .