Plans for a multi-million pound redevelopment of Twickenham Riverside, creating a new heart for the town, have been thrown into disarray.

The Twickenham Riverside Trust, which controls a large area of the site, has announced it plans to mount an objection to the scheme.

The Trust holds a lease for the Diamond Jubilee Gardens, which would have to be moved in order to make way for the landmark development.

Richmond Borough Council had hoped the Trust would agree to move the gardens to a new area, however this has been rejected.

This morning – Tuesday - the Trust signalled its 'strong objection' to the Council taking ownership of the Gardens, which could set up a long battle.

The Twickenham Riverside scheme involves removing cars and parking from the area to create a new public open space and promenade. There will be two new buildings with 45 homes, plus shops, a café, pub and a children's playground.

The Council has signalled that it will push ahead with its scheme by taking control of the Gardens through a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) for the land. However, the objection from the Trust makes this difficult.

The Trust holds a 125-year lease on the Gardens, created in 2014, with the objective of preserving them long into the future as public open space on the Twickenham Riverside.

Following professional and legal advice, it will now be calling on the Secretary of State, Michael Gove, to reject the CPO.

The Trust chairman, Luke Montgomery Smith said: "We commissioned an independent assessment by the surveyors, Carter Jonas, of the quantity and quality of the public open space in the Council's development design compared to the existing space on Twickenham Riverside.

"We have been advised that the public open space provided in the CPO is not of equal advantage compared to what exists today. That means it would not benefit the public in terms of open space and the use of that land and would therefore be considered, under the relevant legislation, to be disadvantageous to the public compared to what exists today in the Gardens and on the Embankment.

"This is a fundamental point given the Trust's objectives.

"The basis of the Council's case is complex, and we will give more detail in the next ten days, when our objection has been submitted."

Mr Montgomery Smith added: "The Trust must be guided throughout by the objects in its articles, which are 'to preserve, protect and improve, for the benefit of the public, the riverside and its environs at Twickenham', and also by the purpose for which the Gardens were created and the lease granted to the Trust just seven years ago."

As part of the CPO process, the Council has sent the order and accompanying Statement of Reasons to Michael Gove. Any objections to the CPO have to be made by November 22.

It is not clear whether Mr Gove will side with the Council or the Trust. He has previously signalled support for the scheme by approving a £600,000 to help fund the redevelopment from a national fund to support councils across England build new homes on what is described as underused or derelict land.

Clarification: - Twickenham Riverside Trust wish to point out that their objection is to the Compulsory Purchase Order for the Diamond Jubilee Gardens, rather than the development itself. However, if it is successful in blocking the purchase, this would effectively prevent the scheme from going ahead.