London Irish’s plans for a new training facility in Surrey have been rejected by Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles. Irish had planned to build the new training ground on the site of Hazelwood golf course, in Sunbury.
The initial plans were rejected by the local council and an 11 day public inquiry was held in June by way of an appeal. Councillor Richard Smith-Ainsley summed up the council’s position speaking about “substantial concerns about both applications including loss of urban space…and concerns about the impact on the green belt and noise”. Irish had also planned to develop their current training site at The Avenue, building 194 homes, a health club and a care home. These plans have also been rejected.
The club are said to be “very disappointed” by Mr Pickles’ decision and are believed to be considering the next route to take in their quest for a new training facility. The club’s chief executive, Andy Martin, has said the club “very much hope to work closely with Spelthorne Borough Council and our neighbours over the coming months to find an alternative solution as London Irish has no option but to relocate from its current location”.
London Irish will no doubt keep fighting and are determined to leave their somewhat dated facilities at The Avenue. They need to develop new facilities as soon as possible. The fear would be the opposition to their moving has already been built and it may well be difficult to find any neighbourhood prepared to allow the development to take place in their back yard without a substantial fight. For now Irish will stay based at the current site but this story will continue to rumble on. Where their new site is allowed to be built remains uncertain, but one thing is clear, they need a new site and will continue to fight until they have one.