Wimbledon serves ace in expansion court battle

The All England Club has won a High Court battle over its proposed expansion of the Wimbledon site after a judge dismissed a legal challenge from a local campaign group.

The proposal, approved by the Greater London Authority (GLA), is a $269.7m plan that will see the tournament site almost triple in size. The development on the former Wimbledon Park Golf Club includes the construction of 38 new tennis courts and an 8,000-seat stadium.

The expansion will allow The Championships to host its qualifying competition on-site for the first time, moving it from its current location in Roehampton.

Campaign group Save Wimbledon Park (SWP) brought the legal challenge, arguing the development was unlawful as the Grade II*-listed heritage site was protected by restrictive covenants.

However, dismissing the challenge, Mr Justice Saini ruled that the GLA’s decision was a “planning judgment rationally exercised and having regard to appropriate and relevant factors.” 

SWP has indicated it will seek to appeal the verdict. The project is also subject to separate High Court proceedings concerning whether the land is under a ‘statutory trust’, which would require it to be kept available for public recreation.

Deborah Jevans, chairwoman of the All England Club, said, “It is clear that we have a robust planning permission that enables us to create a permanent home for the Wimbledon qualifying competition as well as delivering 27 acres of beautiful new parkland for local people, providing public access to land that has been a private golf course for over 100 years.”

Christopher Coombe, director of SWP, said, “This judgment would, if it stands, set a worrying precedent for the unwanted development of protected green belt and public open spaces around London and across the country.”

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