The All England Club (AELTC), organisers of the Wimbledon tennis tournament, is awaiting planning permission to build 39 new courts at Wimbledon Park as of Friday, despite opposition from local residents and MPs. In the next few days London City Council, deputy mayor for planning, Jules Pipe, will make a key decision that could shape the future of the tournament.
The AELTC argues that expansion is necessary for Wimbledon to maintain its status as the world’s premier tennis tournament. The plans include a new 8,000-capacity stadium and 38 additional courts to be used for qualifying and practice tournaments. According to the club, this will allow an increase of up to 10,000 spectators per day and enhance the experience for players and spectators.
TREES, A CRITICAL POINT
However, local residents and political opponents, such as MP Fleur Anderson, raise environmental and legal concerns. They claim the expansion will cause the loss of 300 trees and 10 years of disruption to the area, creating a ‘tennis industrial complex’. They also point out that Wimbledon Park is protected land and that ‘very special circumstances’ are needed to justify its construction.
For its part, the AELTC has promised to plant 1,500 trees and spend £6 million on improving the lake at Wimbledon Park, as well as opening seven courts to the public after the tournament. However, these gestures have not completely won over opposition groups, who describe them as ‘crumbs’.
85,000 POUNDS TO EACH GOLF CLUB MEMBER
Tensions rose when it was revealed that the AELTC bought the former golf club’s land in 1993, with a commitment to keep it for recreational use. In 2018, the club offered £85,000 to each golf club member to vacate the land, allowing them to move forward with their expansion plans. This decision, according to critics, was made without sufficient consultation with the community.
The case reached the office of the deputy mayor of London after Merton and Wandsworth councils made opposing decisions: Merton approved the plans last October, while Wandsworth rejected them in November. Sadiq Khan, mayor of London, recused himself from the process because of his public support for expansion.
A decision is expected between Friday afternoon and next Wednesday. Despite expectations that the project will be approved, Save Wimbledon Park has criticised the London Authority’s analysis as superficial.
Even if the AELTC wins, the dispute will not end. Paul Kohler MP has pointed out that there could be a legal battle in the High Court, similar to a recent case that prevented housing development in a park protected by a 100-year-old trust.
Residents deny that they are simply opposed to the changes, insisting that they support tennis at Wimbledon, but that the size and attitude of the club is unreasonable, especially in the absence of dialogue about possible compromises.
