Duke of Northumberland loses fight to build on green space in west London

Development plans to pave over allotments in Isleworth rejected on grounds it would harm heritage assets

Local campaigners fighting to preserve a 1.2-hectare space in west London that is under threat from one of Britain's oldest aristocratic families have landed a victory in a long-running saga to turn the green space into flats.

Development plans to pave over much of the Park Road allotments in Isleworth were rejected by the Planning Inspectorate on Tuesday, on the grounds that it would harm protected local open space and heritage assets - and would be detrimental to allotment provision in an area where demand outstripped supply.