Should public green spaces ever become private training grounds?

On Monday 27 July, the High Court quashed planning permission for Tottenham Hotspur’s proposed women’s and girls’ football academy at Whitewebbs Park in Enfield.

The plans would have turned 16 hectares — around 40 acres — of public parkland into a fenced training complex. They received 296 objections, including concerns about losing green space, more than 200 trees and habitats used by bats, birds, badgers and butterflies.

The court found that Enfield Council breached transparency requirements and misled its planning committee about concerns raised by an external ecology officer.

Expanding women’s football matters. International success, growing popularity and rising attendances at clubs such as Arsenal show why players deserve excellent facilities. But those facilities do not have to replace public nature.

I grew up in Enfield and have spent some hours kicking a football at Whitewebbs or walking there with friends and family. Parks give people room to breathe, exercise, connect and recover from city life.

This decision also shows that organised community campaigning can protect shared places. If you live nearby, visit Whitewebbs and experience what residents fought to preserve.