Plans to drastically expand Wimbledon have hit a fresh setback after a local campaign group won the right to appeal against a summer court verdict that upheld the decision to grant planning permission.
The All England Club celebrated what appeared to be a key victory in the long-running saga in July, when a High Court judge rejected a request by the Save Wimbledon Park group for a judicial review into the Greater London Authority’s 2024 approval of plans to triple the size of the tournament site.
However, the campaigners, who have spent four years arguing that building on the former Wimbledon Park Golf Club was unlawful, have succeeded in protracting the legal battle. It is understood their appeal will be heard in the new year.
A Save Wimbledon Park spokesperson said: ‘We are delighted with the grant of permission. This is a David and Goliath struggle.
‘The AELTC is a rich and well-connected corporate developer which has worked for decades to take over a substantial part of this highly protected public Park for its own purposes.
‘It has been tireless in its attempts to brush aside the legal protections and to date has ignored the fact that it formally covenanted in 1993, when acquiring the underlying title from the London Borough of Merton at a knock down price, that it would never build on the land.’
While there remains confidence that the 73-acre expansion will ultimately take place, headlined by plans to build 38 new tennis courts and an 8,000-seat stadium, there will doubtless be frustration at the All England Club over the latest interruption.
The most optimistic assessment is that ground will be broken in 2027 ahead of internal projections that qualifiers might be hosted on the expanded footprint by 2032.
However, this appeal adds to an already complicated legal landscape – a second case, due to be heard by the High Court in January, will decide whether a statutory trust exists on the former golf course in Wimbledon Park.
A spokesperson for the All England Club said: ‘Following the High Court’s dismissal on all grounds of the recent judicial review, we are confident that the Court of Appeal will ultimately judge that the High Court made the correct decision in upholding the GLA’s grant of planning permission for a development that will enable us to deliver one of the greatest sporting transformations since the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
‘Our plans will create a permanent home for the Wimbledon Qualifying competition but crucially they also deliver 27 acres of beautiful new parkland for local people to enjoy, providing the public access to green space that has been used as a private members golf club for more than 100 years.
‘We have spoken to more than 10,000 people who have taken the time to come in person and understand our plans in detail.
‘The vast majority of people just want us to get on and deliver the many benefits on offer as soon as possible.’
