Wimbledon expansion plans ‘court’ controversy

Image: ALLIES & MORRISON and AELTC

The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), host of the Wimbledon Championships (UK), has initiated legal proceedings to secure its plans for a major expansion including 39 new courts and an 8,000-capacity show court on the former Wimbledon Park Golf Club site.

‘FoxMandal’ stated that this £200 million ($254.8 million) project, intended to enhance the venue’s capacity and infrastructure, follows planning permission granted by the Greater London Authority (the devolved regional governance body of Greater London) in September last year.

‘The Athletic’ stated that in another development, the residents’ group fighting Wimbledon’s tennis expansion plans – which include adding one stadium court and 38 further courts to the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) grounds – has also formally “started legal action to challenge the validity of the Mayor of London’s (Sadiq Khan) decision to grant planning permission for the AELTC redevelopment of the former Wimbledon Park Golf Course”.

The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC), also known as the All England Club, based at Church Road, Wimbledon, London, England (UK) is a private members’ club. It is best known as the venue for the Wimbledon Championships, the only Grand Slam tennis event still held on grass.

The Wimbledon Championships, commonly called Wimbledon, is a tennis tournament organized by the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) in collaboration with the Lawn Tennis Association annually in Wimbledon, London (UK).

The AELTC plans to build 39 new grass courts on the old Wimbledon Park Golf Course which would almost triple the size of the grounds at the Wimbledon Championships. One of these courts will be an 8,000-seat show court which would be Wimbledon’s third.

‘FoxMandal’ further stated that opposition from some local residents and concerns about a potential statutory trust on the land which could restrict development have prompted the AELTC to issue a formal letter before action and seek a definitive legal ruling. The club asserts that no such trust exists emphasizing its rights as a private entity. Legal counsel, including senior barristers, has advised that a statutory trust does not apply but the AELTC is pursuing legal action in the United Kingdom High Court to definitively resolve the issue and reassure the stakeholders.

The expansion, which would triple the facility’s size, involves land purchased in 2018 for £65 million ($87.1 million). By clarifying the land’s legal status the AELTC aims to address community concerns and prevent challenges that could derail the project.
 

Cross Swords

‘The Athletic’ further stated that the Save Wimbledon Park (SWP – residents’ association) contends that “the planning decision made errors of law and planning policy” concerning the Wimbledon Park Golf Course land which the AELTC bought in 1993. The SWP believes that the new planning permission contradicts a “statutory trust” which requires certain areas of land to be kept free for public recreation. The AELTC believes that this does not apply to the land in question and both parties are seeking legal judgment.

A High Court judge will now assess the legal challenges and determine whether or not to proceed to a judicial review. This process is expected to take a few months and any review would likely take place in 2026.

The SWP also contends that the development of the Wimbledon Park Golf Club which the AELTC bought in 2018 was itself in breach of that trust as well as “restrictive covenants” that say the land should not be used “other than for leisure or recreational purposes or as an open space”. It will argue that Wimbledon’s expansion does not fulfill those provisions.

The Greater London Authority issued final confirmation of the planning permission in late November last year. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, recused himself from the process in October 2023 and his deputy, Jules Pipe, approved the AELTC’s proposals after a 221-page Greater London Authority report found “no material considerations that are considered to justify the refusal of consent”.

A Greater London Authority spokesperson said, “The Mayor believes this scheme will bring a significant range of benefits including economic, social and cultural benefits to the local area, the wider capital and the economy of United Kingdom creating new jobs and cementing Wimbledon’s reputation as the greatest tennis competition in the world. It is understood that an application has been made for the court to determine this matter and it is therefore inappropriate for the Mayor to comment further at this stage.”

An AELTC spokesperson declined to comment and described the challenge as a matter for the Greater London Authority.

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