The Council's compulsory purchase order for Twickenham's Diamond Jubilee Gardens has been approved by the inspector.

Twickenham Riverside Trust currently has the lease over the Diamond Jubilee Gardens but they oppose the Twickenham Riverside redevelopment scheme, which would see 45 new homes, shops, cafés, open space and a pub built next to the river.

The Twickenham Riverside Trust oppose the scheme on the grounds the block that would be situated at Wharf Lane would be too tall.

They also want to see The Diamond Jubilee Gardens retained and expanded as part of any scheme to redevelop the Riverside, rather than moved to a new, larger area on the site, as proposed in the plans.

Artists impression of the view from the bottom of Water Lane (Credit RBC).

The Inspector's report says: "The key conclusion I draw from the Inquiry is that whilst some detailed aspects remain to be addressed, there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the principle of the Scheme or with the Order or with the Authority's proposed way forward."

It adds: "The quality of the Scheme draws from its distinctive relationship to the river.

"It seeks to embrace and harness that relationship through creation of a far safer and far more attractive riverside environment, and one in which both open space and the wider public realm would be promoted to the fore."

"Open space and the exciting untapped environmental potential of the river would no longer be marginalised and rendered subservient to vehicles and to vehicle parking.

"Additional to that would be the enhanced relationship the Scheme would facilitate between the town centre and the riverside and, more generally, the considerable housing and economic and other benefits to be delivered."

The report adds that the compulsory acquisition would secure improvement to the economic, social and environmental well-being of the modified Order Land and, more widely, of both Twickenham and of the Thames riverside and that therefore, it is in the public interest for the compulsory purchase order to go ahead.

In the report, the inspector also refers to a section 19 certificate that also needs to be issues by the Secretary of State.

Cllr Jame Chard has confirmed to Nub News that this has also been issued today.

The planning permission for the scheme has already been approved, meaning that now the scheme will be able to move forward.

In a statement on social media Cllr Gareth Roberts, leader of Richmond Council said: "I'd like to thank all those who have supported us in getting to this stage in proceedings, I hope that those who opposed it will recognise that not only is this what local people want, it has been given the thumbs up by an independent body.

"We've had enough delay. Lets do this."

Cllr James Chard, for Twickenham Riverside has also commented on social media:

He told Nub News: "We should now, at last, be able to proceed with the Hopkins scheme, which already has planning permission.

"As per my tweets, I'd really like to draw attention to the Inspector's conclusions in section 12.

"He's very clear about the huge public benefit from the scheme for Twickenham residents."

Celia Holman, from Twickenham Riverside Trust said: "In order for the Council to be able to proceed with its development plans, three decisions in its favour are required. The CPO decision is just one of those three.

"The Trust is clearly disappointed by the CPO decision."