Legal challenge fails to halt Earls Court scheme

The administrative court ruled yesterday that Harold Greatwood had no legal basis for his claim and did not grant him a judicial review.

Mr Greatwood argued that Hammersmith & Fulham Council’s consultation with residents before it signed a conditional land sale agreement with EC Properties to include the West Kensington and Gibbs Green estates in the wider regeneration of Earls Court was not lawful.

He claimed the consultation included too many people who lived far away from the estates affected and that the existence of an ‘early movers lists’ undermined the lawfulness of the decision.

He also believed the council should not have signed the agreement until the developer had reached an agreement with Transport for London for the sale of the adjoining Lillie Bridge Depot.

Judge Clive Lewis ruled against Mr Greatwood on all three grounds.

Nicholas Botterill, leader of Hammersmith & Fulham Council, said: ‘The redevelopment of Earls Court is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for the local residents to benefit from a multi-billion pound investment in their own neighbourhood.

‘We will be working closely with local residents to ensure they are the main beneficiaries of this scheme.’

Mr Greatwood’s request for a judicial review on the same grounds in January was also refused by a judge but he was given an oral hearing for the decision to be reconsidered.

He has said: ‘I’m fighting alongside my neighbours to save our homes from being redeveloped.’

Last week communities secretary Eric Pickles approved the sale of the estates, removing one of the final barriers preventing the regeneration scheme from going ahead.