‘Grow Heathrow’, also known as ‘Transition Heathrow’, is a thriving community project in Vineries Close, Sipson, West London, which may face eviction in the coming weeks as a decision is reached by Central London County Court.

The case was heard on Monday and Tuesday of this week in Marylebone, London, to conclude a case previously adjourned of the landowner against the ‘squatters’.

Established in March 2010, the original aim of ‘Grow Heathrow’ was to prevent the development of a third runway at Heathrow, already London’s busiest airport. The site on Vineries Close sits directly where tarmac for the proposed runway would have sat.

Following the successful prevention of the Heathrow extension the campaigners turned the site into a busy market garden, renovating greenhouses, establishing a bike workshop and organising community events.

In the last two years the site has become part of the community not just in Sipson, but in other neighbouring villages. Local residents as well as local MPs have spoken in praise of the project which turned a “derelict mess” into something proactive, turning the land into something positive instead of an empty space often host to anti-social behaviour.

John Mcdonnell, MP for Hayes and Harlington, who spoke in court as a witness said:

‘Grow Heathrow’ member, Joe, spoke on film about the benefits of the project, thoughts which are shared by the surrounding community:

The group now have to wait anxiously for the judge’s decision, which will decide the fate of the much supported, and now firmly established ‘Grow Heathrow’.

[Photograph via @transheathrow shows protesters outside the court on Monday]