A £2bn Lendlease scheme in North London can go ahead after a High Court judge threw out objections from Tottenham Hotspur Football Club.
The mixed-use redevelopment scheme, called High Road West, is close to the club’s stadium. It involves the construction of a new neighbourhood that will include six tall buildings and a new public park.
Haringey Council appointed Lendlease as development partner in 2017. The scheme was granted planning permission in August last year, following a delay caused by objections from Tottenham Hotspur and Arup over the quality of the plans. The club had earlier drawn up its own rival plans for the site.
The club subsequently issued a legal challenge to Haringey over the permission, claiming that the council had failed to consider the heritage impact on North Tottenham’s conservation area and listed buildings, and over crowd control issues.
In dismissing the claim, Mr Justice Pushpinder Saini said part of the club’s case was based on a “mischaracterisation of the heritage analysis” carried out by the council.
He added that any potential harm would be outweighed by the benefits of the scheme. “The planning assessment of public benefits is clear. There is a clear development plan… and the regenerative impacts of the scheme are of overwhelming significance in the planning balance,” he said.
Tottenham Hotspur also claimed that the planning permission meant that Lendlease could charge the club an unlimited fee for allowing stadium attendees access through or around its construction sites to White Hart Lane rail station.
The judge rejected this argument too, stating that Haringey Council had stipulated that the club would be consulted about crowd control measures alongside the police and other safety bodies, and that Lendlease will be required to provide “workable” access for crowds.
Haringey Council, the judge pointed out, had said the parties must work together on the details and such rights must be granted “on reasonable terms”.
The judge stated that the planning permission had secured an “appropriate mechanism to ensure that the stadium’s operations would be sustainable when all parties worked together and acted reasonably while consulting key stakeholders. That was plainly a lawful approach to adopt”.
In a statement after the judgement, David Joyce, director of placemaking and housing at Haringey Council, said: “The decision is an endorsement that the council’s planning authority acted lawfully in the granting of planning permission for the scheme.
“This is the biggest regeneration programme in Haringey’s history, delivering 500 high-quality council homes as well as major investment in new open spaces, community facilities and local jobs and training opportunities.”
Joyce said the council would “continue to listen to the views of residents and local stakeholders” as it shapes the final designs for the project.
A Lendlease spokesperson said: “The transformation of High Road West will deliver much-needed new homes, jobs and community facilities. We look forward to working with local residents, business owners and Haringey Council as part of their commitment to deliver that vision.”
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club did not respond to a request for comment.
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