Wembley parking

Working with Browne Jacobson, we have provided expert witness services to the Excellence in Education Trust in their appeal against an enforcement notice against the Oakington Manor Primary School. The large primary school sells up to 350 car parking spaces in the school grounds for events at Wembley, which the London Borough of Brent wished to stop.  The school rely on the funds the parking generates and decided to fight the case.

A Public Inquiry determined the use had been continuous for more than 10 years, since the new stadium opened in 2007, and was therefore exempt from enforcement.  The High Court quashed that decision because the Inspector failed to consider whether there had been a material change of use because of intensification when Tottenham Hotspur FC played their home games at Wembley, from 2016 to 2018.  So a second Public Inquiry was held, and has just finished, to consider that matter and also whether the car parking should be allowed anyway even if the 10 years couldn’t be proved.

As well as the fascinating legal arguments, it was great to see the regeneration going on around the stadium.  The Inquiry took place in the Brent Civic Centre, a beautiful building by Hopkins Architects.