A High Court judge is set to rule on a long running row over whether the All England Tennis Club can expand its historic iconic Wimbledon tennis grounds into the adjoining park.
A hearing took place from the last week over whether Wimbledon Park can be developed for business or commercial purposes – with a verdict expected in the next two or three months.
Tennis heads ‘expect economic growth and new opportunities for players’
The All England Lawn Tennis Club [AELTC] addressed plans to rebuild the space including an 8,000 seat stadium, 3km boardwalk and walkways, and 38 courts.
Carlos Alcaraz [Credit: AP News]This project would create a new profitable job market with more than 250 new jobs on site and countless jobs for construction.
The AELTC estimates the project is expected to give a boost of about £300 million to London’s economy.
This project would secure Wimbledon’s future in the Grand Slam by hosting the qualifying rounds on site.
Campaigners: ‘We like tennis as it is, not how bosses want to change it’
Save Wimbledon Park campaigners [Credit: SWP]Campaigners for Save Wimbledon Park [SWP], which was created by local residents of Wimbledon, argues that the plan would be insufficient due to binding statutory trust terms after sale agreements when the land was first sold.
SWP says that the property is also a Grade II heritage-listed site and a Metropolitan open-land Greenbelt property.
With roughly 50 other metropolitan open sites in London, this case could affect the futures of these other recreational spaces.
Simon Wright, lead campaigner for SWP, says campaigners want the AELTC to drop the planning and rethink development that will lower the costs environmentally.
“The irony is, we all really like tennis,” says Wright. “When we moved here, we thought, ‘Brilliant, we have tennis in our back gardens.’ However, we like tennis the way it is, not the way that the AELTC wants to develop it.”
Wright continued to share that despite invites to church hall meetings, the AELTC does not seem to want dialogue with local residents or campaign stakeholders.
Local architects Ken McFarlane and Neil Thompson worked with the SWP to accurately depict the business remodelling plan proposed by the AELTC.
Development plan of Wimbledon Park, [Credit: SWP]
From the golf course to tennis grounds: the history of the case
In 1993, the land was sold by Merton Council to the AELTC.
The land in question is the former golf course, to which it was made accessible to the public, but the golf club itself was private.
The agreement was that the land is to be used as recreational space, until the AELTC drafted their business plans to restructure the property nearly five years ago.
Since Wimbledon Park is straddles Wandsworth and Merton, both councils had to give permission in order for building permissions. In 2023, Merton majority voted to grant planning permission, yet Wandsworth rejected the vote unanimously.
In 2024, this was sent to the Deputy Mayor of London through Greater London Authority who also approved the redevelopment plans.
Wimbledon Park is ‘the heart of the community’
Wright says that the land has been so important to local residents for their overall health, both emotionally and physically, and that the park is very dear to them.
“Only two thirds of the people who live in the London Borough Wandsworth have access to parks and open space of their own. The other third, the only access they have is access to public parks. During the pandemic, Wimbledon park was so important for people to have access to that regularly available space.”
Wright continued to say that it’s not just Wimbledon Park that’s necessary, but parks everywhere.
“If you want to exercise, if you want to experience nature, parks are absolutely crucial.”
The campaign has been backed by local MP’s and conservation charities.
While some residents remain impartial to the ongoing process, numerous locals have rallied around the campaign. Many are donating their own money to raise funds for the extensive court fees and funds for the ongoing campaign.
Short HeadlineThe court battle behind Wimbledon tennis' future
StandfirstA High Court is raising questions on how green spaces can be developed
A High Court judge is set to rule on a long running row over whether the All England Tennis Club can expand its historic iconic Wimbledon tennis grounds into the adjoining park.
A hearing took place from the last week over whether Wimbledon Park can be developed for business or commercial purposes – with a verdict expected in the next two or three months.
Tennis heads ‘expect economic growth and new opportunities for players’
The All England Lawn Tennis Club [AELTC] addressed plans to rebuild the space including an 8,000 seat stadium, 3km boardwalk and walkways, and 38 courts.
Carlos Alcaraz [Credit: AP News]This project would create a new profitable job market with more than 250 new jobs on site and countless jobs for construction.
The AELTC estimates the project is expected to give a boost of about £300 million to London’s economy.
This project would secure Wimbledon’s future in the Grand Slam by hosting the qualifying rounds on site.
Campaigners: ‘We like tennis as it is, not how bosses want to change it’
Save Wimbledon Park campaigners [Credit: SWP]Campaigners for Save Wimbledon Park [SWP], which was created by local residents of Wimbledon, argues that the plan would be insufficient due to binding statutory trust terms after sale agreements when the land was first sold.
SWP says that the property is also a Grade II heritage-listed site and a Metropolitan open-land Greenbelt property.
With roughly 50 other metropolitan open sites in London, this case could affect the futures of these other recreational spaces.
Simon Wright, lead campaigner for SWP, says campaigners want the AELTC to drop the planning and rethink development that will lower the costs environmentally.
“The irony is, we all really like tennis,” says Wright. “When we moved here, we thought, ‘Brilliant, we have tennis in our back gardens.’ However, we like tennis the way it is, not the way that the AELTC wants to develop it.”
Wright continued to share that despite invites to church hall meetings, the AELTC does not seem to want dialogue with local residents or campaign stakeholders.
Local architects Ken McFarlane and Neil Thompson worked with the SWP to accurately depict the business remodelling plan proposed by the AELTC.
Development plan of Wimbledon Park, [Credit: SWP]
From the golf course to tennis grounds: the history of the case
In 1993, the land was sold by Merton Council to the AELTC.
The land in question is the former golf course, to which it was made accessible to the public, but the golf club itself was private.
The agreement was that the land is to be used as recreational space, until the AELTC drafted their business plans to restructure the property nearly five years ago.
Since Wimbledon Park is straddles Wandsworth and Merton, both councils had to give permission in order for building permissions. In 2023, Merton majority voted to grant planning permission, yet Wandsworth rejected the vote unanimously.
In 2024, this was sent to the Deputy Mayor of London through Greater London Authority who also approved the redevelopment plans.
Wimbledon Park is ‘the heart of the community’
Wright says that the land has been so important to local residents for their overall health, both emotionally and physically, and that the park is very dear to them.
“Only two thirds of the people who live in the London Borough Wandsworth have access to parks and open space of their own. The other third, the only access they have is access to public parks. During the pandemic, Wimbledon park was so important for people to have access to that regularly available space.”
Wright continued to say that it’s not just Wimbledon Park that’s necessary, but parks everywhere.
“If you want to exercise, if you want to experience nature, parks are absolutely crucial.”
The campaign has been backed by local MP’s and conservation charities.
While some residents remain impartial to the ongoing process, numerous locals have rallied around the campaign. Many are donating their own money to raise funds for the extensive court fees and funds for the ongoing campaign.
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