A women’s football academy is set to be established on public green space and a restored former golf course following Enfield Council’s approval of contentious plans put forth by **Tottenham Hotspur** football club.
The council has granted Spurs a 25-year lease for 53 hectares (130 acres) of Whitewebbs Park located in north **London**. This approval includes the construction of all-weather pitches, floodlights, and a “turf academy” on greenbelt land that is home to diverse wildlife including bats, newts, and mature trees. In return, Spurs will provide £2 million to the council.
Community members, who previously attempted to legally contest what they deemed an unlawful appropriation of public space, voiced their concerns in protests outside the planning committee meeting. Their legal challenge to the High Court was unsuccessful.
Spurs’ planning approval comes on the heels of **Wimbledon’s** contentious but successful initiative to develop 39 new tennis courts on the former Wimbledon Park golf course.
Alice Roberts from the countryside charity **CPRE London** expressed her dismay, stating, “This marks a grim moment for our parks. It’s perplexing why Enfield Council is willing to sacrifice such a beautiful public park to a rich private corporation for a minimal fee. They are expected to protect public rights to this green space, which has served the Enfield community for over nine decades. Now it’s lost forever.
“We will keep fighting for Whitewebbs, and for all parks across the UK. We need to bring this issue to parliament, as prior court rulings have indicated that local authorities can ignore public rights and treat parks merely as financial assets without repercussions.”
While the Greater London Authority (GLA) and Housing Secretary Angela Rayner have the authority to intervene or overturn Enfield Council’s decision, such action seems improbable, especially given the GLA’s previous endorsement of Wimbledon’s development plans.
Enfield Council purchased Whitewebbs Park for public use in 1931. The park’s grassland has operated as a public golf course since the 1930s until its closure in 2021. Since then, the site has reverted to a natural state, providing habitat for approximately **80 bird species and at least nine bat species**, including great crested newts and badgers. It is recognized as one of north London’s prime locations for butterflies, hosting 29 species including the brown hairstreak, purple emperor, and white-letter hairstreak.
Under Spurs’ management, 66% of the leased park area will remain accessible to the public, although 18 hectares will be designated for new pitches and amenities for the women’s football academy.
Planned developments by Spurs include transforming the old golf club house into a café complete with restrooms, facilities for dog-washing, a revamped parking area with electric vehicle charging stations, and community space.
Enfield Council’s Labour leader, Ergin Erbil, remarked, “We are pleased with Tottenham Hotspur Football Co Ltd’s (THFC) commitments to enhance the surrounding green space. They have pledged to plant 2,000 trees, boost biodiversity, repair pathways, and improve public access within the park.
“We believe this initiative will generate exciting prospects for Enfield, including job creation, apprenticeships, and improved sports facilities. Our borough stands to gain from a world-class training facility for women’s football, one of the fastest-expanding sports globally. We are also happy to announce that these new grounds will be accessible to youth teams, grassroots clubs, and community organizations.”
Local resident and lifelong Spurs supporter Pratik Sampat voiced his concerns: “This beautiful, biodiverse area will be significantly transformed with plastic pitches and fences. While they may beautify it, it will lose its natural essence. The advantages will primarily benefit this massive corporation, with minimal gain for the local population.”
Advocates are seeking legal counsel for additional challenges to the plans. Sam Gracie Tillbrook, chair of **Guardians of Whitewebbs**, shared, “During the lockdown, I faced mental health challenges, and visiting Whitewebbs Park was one of the few things that brought me peace. Losing such a significant part of the park feels like losing a piece of my own identity. The community surrounding this park is incredibly special, and the thought of losing it brings deep sadness and distress. We must protect Whitewebbs.”
Protester Ed Allnutt added, “Whitewebbs is our public park, an essential part of Enfield’s green infrastructure. Spurs’ proposal to privatize it as part of a billionaire football enterprise feels like outright theft.”
A spokesperson for Spurs expressed their enthusiasm: “We are thrilled that Enfield Council’s planning committee has approved our plans. This is a unique site we know well, being located right next door. Our proposals will secure its future with a green focus and ensure it remains an open, inclusive space for the local community.
“We will enhance local access to wildlife and habitats, introduce new facilities for visitors, community groups, and sports teams, and position Enfield as a leader in supporting women’s and girls’ football with a top-tier academy.”
