Ealing Council has told residents that it will no longer build on rewilded Warren Farm and following a long standing battle with residents and campaigners will designate the land as a local nature reserve.
Labour-run Ealing Council has fought with Warren Farm Nature Reserve campaigners over recent years by saying it wanted to build a large sports facility on Warren Farm which has rewilded itself after years of not being used.
Campaigners warned that developing on the rewilded 61-acre wildflower meadow would leave Ealing’s only Skylark population with nowhere to breed which they say contradicts Ealing Council’s own Biodiversity Action Plan which confirms that Warren Farm is the only place in the borough suitable for Skylarks to nest.
Now the council in a surprise u-turn has said its plans for the future of Warren Farm and the area around it will be “the best of both worlds”.
In a statement, the council said it is working with Imperial College on land next to Warren Farm to develop sports facility on it and revealed “approximately the 20-hectare site becoming a local nature reserve, while a new sports ground will be built on additional land next to it.”
Warren Farm Nature Reserve campaigner and Brent River & Canal Society (BRCS) trustee Katie Boyles said of the u-turn: “We are delighted that Ealing Council has agreed to designate Warren Farm as a local nature reserve. Credit to the council for taking stock and reversing plans that would have been hugely environmentally damaging.”
Ms Boyles added: “There is of course much work to be done, details to secure and discussions to be had. What’s fantastic is that we can now work together on this landmark decision with our supporters, community, and ecological experts to ensure the safeguarding of Ealing’s rare and beloved species. For our Copse Bindweed, Skylarks, Barn Owls, Butterflies and so much more, this marks a significant step in London’s environmental conservation.
“This is a unique opportunity to set a precedent for other councils up and down the country. This doesn’t just stop with Warren Farm Nature Reserve. We can be ground-breaking in our approach to protect and enhance biodiversity for the benefit of future generations who will be living with the consequences of the actions we take today.
“We extend a massive heartfelt thank you to our dedicated supporters for moving the dial in favour of nature here and whose unwavering commitment and care for our wildlife continues to play a pivotal role in making this further progress possible. We would not have made it this far without each and every one of you. If our Skylarks could thank you themselves, they would. Watch this green space.”
Council leader Peter Mason said: “Ever since the start of our plans to deliver both sports and rewilding at Warren Farm, we’ve worked to try and secure the best of both worlds. So, we’re over the moon to have agreed with Imperial College that the new sports pitches can go on their land to the north of Warren Farm. It means that all of the existing green space that people know as Warren Farm today, can continue to be rewilded.
“It means we can finally move forward to getting rid of the old, dilapidated buildings and get on with delivering a community sports facility that Southall and Hanwell can be proud of. We will continue to want to work in partnership with local residents and campaigners to deliver a bold, community led plan to safeguard Warren Farm’s open and biodiverse future.”
BRCS chair, Phil Belman commented: “BRCS has been consistent in pointing out the national, regional and local policies the council should be following. The BRCS Vision for Warren Farm remains the same. This is further progress which we warmly welcome. We look forward to the removal of the unsafe derelict buildings and the return of hardstanding to meadow.”
Ealing Liberal Democrats Councillor Athena Zissimos said: “Liberal Democrats say what fantastic news to hear that Ealing’s Labour Council has made a u-turn and is saving all of rewilded Warren Farm in its entirety. All the hard work that activists have put into the effort to save all of Warren Farm over many years has been rewarded, with a wonderful turnaround.”
Councillor Zissimos added: “It is good to see that something the Liberal Democrats have campaigned for, over many years, has happened. I am happy to see that the young birders I met, that passionately wanted to keep all of Warren Farm, have had their wish granted and will be able to continue to bird watch in Warren Farm. In years to come hopefully a new generation of birders will come along and will be just as passionate about the wonders of Warren Farm. Most of all though I am happy for the skylarks, the barn owls, the kites, the copse bindweed and the special red clovers that will continue for ever more in the rewilded special place that is Warren Farm. We have asked questions about a possible land swap and are awaiting feedback.”
Deputy leader of The Green Party, Zack Polanski who has been campaigning for Warren Farm told EALING.NEWS: “This is a win for literal grassroots people power. I’m proud the role local and national Green Party have played working alongside the local community to clearly move towards a better outcome for Warren Farm. Whilst this is a welcome development, there must be further scrutiny into the exact details and how the community was ignored for so long. Profit at the destruction of nature should never have been been on the table for Ealing Council in the first place.”
Speaking to EALING.NEWS, Ealing Green Party chair Neil Reynolds added: “I am delighted for the Warren Farm campaign and that they have successfully pressured the council into a u-turn. I am also really grateful to Green party leaders Baroness Jones deputy leader Zack Polankski, and Mayoral candidate Zoë Garbett for their time and effort in working with local campaigners. We will continue to watch carefully to make sure the nature reserve status is granted and the development does not endanger the reserve.”
Dr Sean McCormack, founder and chair of Ealing Wildlife Group told EALING.NEWS: “It’s a relief, in principle at least, to hear that Ealing Council leadership have finally seen sense that they can’t de-wild Warren Farm and call their scheme a re-wilding effort. If the plans actually go ahead as they now claim then I applaud them for promising to protect the habitat and abundant biodiversity that has already rewilded itself at Warren Farm Nature Reserve.”
Dr McCormack added: “And I massively applaud all of the local residents, experts, environmental organisations, celebrities and everyone else, no doubt including Imperial College, who put pressure on them to reverse their previously laid plans. A real community and campaigning triumph! Ealing Wildlife Group look forward to seeing the detailed proposals for the Imperial College land, and being invited by the council to the table, as we have in the past, to be part of discussions on whether or not such grand scale ambition for sports provision can be achieved alongside a local nature reserve (LNR) site. Time will tell.”
Councillor Deirdre Costigan, the council’s cabinet member for climate action said in a statement: “Rewilding and greening parts of the borough are a key part of our climate emergency strategy and Warren Farm’s combination of green space, trees and wildlife habitats is ideal to help us to achieve our bold vision of net zero carbon emissions by 2030.”
Councillor Polly Knewstub, the council’s cabinet member for thriving communities added: “Once the borough’s largest sports ground, Warren Farm was left unused for 14 years while its future was discussed, and the green areas were reclaimed by nature. It was overdue a plan to make the most of what this land offers us, and this new deal with Imperial College gives us the chance to do just that.”
The new plans are set to be discussed on 6 March 2024 at a Ealing Council cabinet meeting.
