Harrow Borough Council is set to reimburse Barnet FC for costs racked up during its long-running planning dispute over its Hive stadium.

The Planning Inspectorate has ruled the council will have to pay money to the club after the authority withdrew its opposition to floodlights and a new stand at the Camrose Avenue football ground.

Last year Harrow Council ordered The Bees to dismantle the lighting and its new west stand after refusing to grant retrospective planning permission for the developments.

The club appealed, and after seeking advice from two independent consultants in April, the council backed down.

Since then the Planning Inspectorate said the awarding of costs to Barnet FC was justified.

Barnet FC chairman Anthony Kleanthous made the following statement: “We have always maintained throughout that the council had acted inappropriately and that the taxpayer will inevitably end up with the cost of the illegal action they had taken against us.

“This whole sorry episode was due to three politicians who exceeded their authority and abused the privilege of their office. It is for others to decide whether they should face sanction and pay for their actions.

“We harbour no malice and assure the community that The Hive and Barnet FC will work with their consultants and council officers to minimise these costs as much as possible for the good of all residents and draw a line under this sorry episode.

“Importantly, we will now be able to freeze our prices at The Hive for a further twelve months and continue creating local jobs for local people.”

In response to the inspectorate's finding a spokesman for Harrow Council said: “The council notes and accepts the judgment in this case. We will seek to work with the owners of Barnet FC.”