In the latest move in the long-running Udney Park Playing Fields saga, Richmond Council has approved the Teddington Society’s recent nomination of the Park as an Asset of Community Value (ACV). This follows on from the soon-expiring original ACV and will give Udney Park a further five years’ protection.
Quantum, current owner of the site, has advised the Council of its intention to sell – but due to the site’s ACV status it cannot now be sold to anyone but a Community Interest Group during the next six months. Such groups, principally community sports, are now advising the Council of their interest and intention to bid.
Udney Park Playing Fields have already been designated a Local Green Space and Teddington Society members will recall the long, expensive Public Inquiry in 2020 which (based on their recreational, ecological and heritage value to the community) unequivocally ruled that the fields were not suitable for any residential development. Recently Richmond Council firmly re-stated its planning advice as “very strong in terms of protecting Udney Park”.
The range of protection now in place will be a significant deterrent against any potential commercial interest in the site.
“We are pleased that our ACV request has been successful, and we hope this will contribute to all of the Udney Playing Fields soon becoming accessible for community sport” said Keith Atkinson, who heads our Planning Group.
Political momentum for a CPO growing
The Udney Park Trust have released a ‘press release’ updating everyone on the momentum gathering for a CPO of the fields at Udney Park. Local hustings were held as a prelude to this week’s general election and the Trust raised a question regarding the future of the site. It was confirmed at the hustings that there was universal support for a CPO from all parties.
The tragedy of the War Memorial Pavilion has been revealed by arial photos taken by residents. These reveal that under the ownership of Mr Wu the building has fallen into such disrepair as to render future renovation work hugely expensive. The project had been to bring the changing rooms back into early use for the community clubs playing on these fields. There were relatively new boilers and heating systems installed just before Imperial College sold the site. The building interior had been dry – even if the changing rooms needed to be brought up to modern standards.
It is hugely disappointing to report that Udney park is now under offer from another group of investors headed up by local resident, Keith Williams.
Udney Park is an Asset of Community Value, defined in the Localism Act (2011) as "Land is an asset of community value if its main use is to further the social wellbeing or social interests of the local community." The Localism Act states that ‘social interests’ include cultural, recreational and sporting interests
