Guardians of Whitewebbs opposes Spurs' application for permission to appeal High Court order

Case update:

PILC client Guardians of Whitewebbs CIC (“GoWW”) opposes Tottenham Hotspur Football Co Limited’s (“THFC”) application for permission to appeal Sir Timothy Kerr’s order which quashed THFC’s planning permission to develop Whitewebbs Park. In response, GoWW has filed a “Respondent’s Statement,” setting out reasons why the Court of Appeal should refuse THFC permission to appeal.

Background:

On 4 August 2026, the High Court quashed THFC’s planning permission (our press release on the judgment can be read here). In the order, the Judge refused THFC permission to appeal the decision, stating that “real procedural unfairness” had occurred in the process to grant planning permission and that it seemed to him “incontestable” that the planning committee had been misled. Since then, THFC has filed an application for permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal.  

Permission to appeal should be refused:‍

As Benny Hawksbee, Chair of Guardians of Whitewebbs, states: 

‍“We believe that permission should be refused. The High Court judgment was strong, finding material prejudice and unfairness leading to the planning committee being misled. This case also has wide implications - the importance of public green space has never been greater, and it is abundantly clear that parks should not be enclosed and given over to private business.”

If permission is refused, Sir Tim Kerr’s judgment and order will stand and Whitewebbs Park will once again be free to remain a public park, protected for the foreseeable future by a defiant community and a new Council administration supportive of GoWW’s campaign to save the park. However, if permission is granted, GoWW will need to carry on its fight for the park at the Court of Appeal.

For more information about the case and campaign, contact:

Guardians of Whitewebbs: guardiansofwhitewebbs@gmail.com

Public Interest Law Centre: harriet.child@pilc.org.uk