Residents want to form a Community Interest Group to protect the land

Residents are calling on Ealing Council to engage over new plans which they say would protect Warren Farm.

The 61 acre site is being leased to QPR by Ealing Council who intend to build a multi-million pound facility which will allow their first team squad and youth teams to train at the same location. They currently use shared training facilities in Harlington. Since they first raised the idea in 2013 there has been fierce resistance from local residents but a High Court decision last year cleared the way for the project to proceed.

This first stage of construction will involve 180,000m3 of soil needing to be brought to the site which the Warren Farm Sports Centre Interest Group says will result in up to 20 HGV movements per hour for up to a year beginning in June. There would be demolition work and initial work is likely to last for up to 6 weeks.

Local environmentalists are urging the Council to protect the land from this development which they say will destroy the ground nesting Skylark habitat, and those of the nesting birds in the hedgerows and buildings. They argue that this would be considered a Wildlife Crime under the Wildlife Country and Countryside act 1981 should any nest be disturbed, or destroyed.

They propose that a Community Interest Group take over the site in conjunction with other nature stakeholders, and volunteer groups. The aim would be to join forces to assist core staff and interns, to support an environmental mission and create year-round educational programs. They say they ''seek to be a  powerful community led force in protecting Warren Farm for conservation, shaping the future of Warren Farm for generations to come.''

A new website Hanwell Nature has been launched outlining this alternative plan for Warren Farm - read more here.

(CGI of planned facility at Warren Farm )

An Ealing Council spokesperson said previously: '‘We will be working alongside Queens Park Rangers to undertake detailed ecological work to avoid any harm to protected habitats and species within the site as part of the planning process. A qualified ecologist will check the site in order to highlight active bird nests before works commence.

“Working in line with environmental regulations, we take steps to ensure that work carried out is done so at an appropriate distance of any nests discovered to limit any disturbance.”

A council spokesperson said, “The plans for Warren Farm will see millions of pounds invested in community sports facilities and the project to deliver this is set to commence later in the coming months.

“We have not been formally approached by Hanwell Nature to discuss these proposals but we would always be happy to speak to local organisations and hear their ideas about improving local parks and green spaces.

“It is clearly very important to carefully consider the local environment when delivering the new community facilities at Warren Farm. This is why we are working alongside Queens Park Rangers to undertake detailed ecological work to avoid any harm to protected habitats and species within the site as part of the planning process. A qualified ecologist will check the site in order to highlight active bird nests before any works commence.

“Working in line with environmental regulations, we take steps to ensure that work carried out is done so at an appropriate distance of any nests discovered to limit any disturbance.”

12 June 2019