Harrow Borough Council will not defend any of its reasons for refusal at a planning appeal over Barnet FC’s stadium the Hive.

At a special meeting of the council’s planning committee this evening councillors voted not to submit any evidence to the Planning Inspectorate at the appeal lodged by the football club.

The decision effectively gives Barnet planning permission for changes made to the west stand of the stadium and the height of the floodlights.

The council will now inform the Planning Inspectorate about this evening’s decision, and will decide whether to continue with the appeal.

Councillors rejected a retrospective application from the club last year on the basis that the stadium's floodlights and west stand fell outside specifications agreed by the council.

The council then issued Barnet with a planning enforcement notice, giving it six months to demolish the stand and three months to remove the lights.

The club then announced it would appeal against both at a public inquiry.

Last week the council withdrew its enforcement notice ordering Barnet FC to pull down a stand and remove floodlights at the stadium.