The Planning Inspector has ruled in Richmond Council’s favour over Diamond Jubilee Gardens.

The authority has been awarded the legal powers to acquire the space and redevelop it into housing and a pontoon.

The Twickenham Riverside Trust was granted a 125-year lease in 2014.

Lord Nicholas True, the council’s Conservative leader at that time granted the Trust the lease “ in perpetuity for the people, so that never again can any other council come forward with a plan to sell the Gardens off to a developer”.

But the current Lib Dem run council launched a Compulsory Purchase Order in 2021 to allow development to take place.

Current Lib Dem leader, Gareth Roberts has tweeted;

“Following a long, drawn-out process the Planning Inspector has found in the council’s favour and has awarded us legal powers to acquire Diamond Jubilee Gardens so we can Get Twickenham Riverside Done.”