"My general approach is not to interfere with the jurisdiction of local planning authorities unless it is necessary to do so. After careful consideration of all the matters about the applications and having regard to my policy on call in, I have reached the conclusion that there is not sufficient conflict in this case with national planning policies or any other sufficient reason to warrant calling in the applications."

See DTLR press release for more.

The way is clear now for the Islington to grant permission for the Ashburton Grove and related plans. The only possible remaining obstacle to Arsenal's future in Islington would appear to be the court action against Islington Council, threatened by the opposition groups. But the fact that everyone else appears to agree that Arsenal have made sufficient efforts to answer all the objections, would appear to make their action doomed to failure.