A leisure club owned by a multinational oil giant has succeeded in blocking a hydroelectric renewable energy scheme next to its land at Teddington Weir after months of legal wrangling.

Senior judges ruled the Teddington and Ham Hydro scheme should not have been granted planning permission last year and Richmond Council's committee had been “badly wrong” when considering the merits of the application.

The council has agreed through the court to pay £55,000 to the Shell-owned Lensbury Club in Teddington, which launched the appeal, to cover its legal costs. 

Though the scheme was met with support from many parties, the proposals drew fierce opposition from the nearby Lensbury Club and various community groups, with an online petition against the plans reaching almost 1,400 supporters.

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Lord Justice Sales said national greenbelt policy safeguards important open areas from “death by a thousand cuts”, that could occur when a series of planning applications that seem reasonable in themselves but create cumulative damage are granted permission.

The Teddington and Ham Hydro proposal involved demolishing a section of Teddington weir and installing Archimdedean screws to generate power.

A spokesman from Teddington and Ham Hydro said the team was devastated about the news.

He said: “We will reflect on the impact of the verdict for the future of our plans and will be taking views from our local community supporters.

“We will be making a fuller statement to the local community in due course.”

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The Lensbury had previously launched a judiciary review into the council’s decision to grant planning permission but this was dismissed in May.

A spokesman from Richmond Council said: "Having spent a great deal of time ensuring the plans for Ham Hydro met all local requirements, we are disappointed that it is has been rejected on a technical legal point.

"We have yet to have any discussions with Ham Hydro, but will consider the options in due course."

Lensbury chief executive Lacy Curtis-Ward said she was pleased with the decision.

She said: "Lensbury remains supportive of renewable energy technologies, including an appropriate hydro-electric power development at Teddington Weir.

"However, it is crucial for such developments to be properly assessed, to ensure that everyone is clear on the impacts, benefits and suitability of the development proposals.”

She added: “Lensbury will continue to co-operate with Richmond Council and the hydro project’s developer to ensure an appropriate scheme can be progressed.”

Councillor for Teddington Stephen Knight said he found the decision to scotch the plans extraordinary, and given the Lensbury had already lost the judicial review decision he had expected them to lose this one too.

Planning permission was granted in 2014 for a 213-home development at the former Teddington Studios site next to the Lensbury.

Cllr Knight said: “The Lensbury Club didn’t reject the decision to build hundreds of high rise flats on the open land so it seems extraordinary they have objected to this decision to build a relatively small structure that will generate renewable electricity.”

He added that it is his understanding the Hydro team would have to resubmit a full application from scratch if they wished to pursue the scheme, and the cost of doing so would be significant.

He said: “There must be serious question marks over how this could go ahead now.”

Twickenham MP Tania Mathias said she was sorry the contentious proposal had to go to court but it was important to consider the development’s effects on this part of the river.

She said: “I note Lord Justice Sales’ judgement also acknowledged the importance of this part of the river particularly in his reference to Metropolitan Open Land areas and equivalent greenbelt safeguards, which I support.”