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The controversy of expansion of Wimbledon, which would almost triple the size of the tennis tournament ground, can come to an end now after a legal challenge against the decision to approve the proposal was dismissed by the judge. Wimbledon’s plan includes adding an 8,000-seat stadium with a retractable roof and 38 other grass courts which could take the capacity from 42,000 to 50,000. Wimbledon has been the only Grand Slam tournament that holds its qualifying rounds at a completely separate location and now that the permission of expansion has been granted, it will allow the club to host the qualifiers on site.
Save Wimbledon Park (SWP) took legal action against the Greater London Authority’s (GLA) decision to grant planning permission of Wimbledon tennis site expansion last year. Earlier this month, they stated that the decision to approve the plans of expansion were "irrational" as any development on the Wimbledon Park Golf Club was unlawful as is a listed heritage site by Lancelot Brown which was covered by restrictions on how it could be used. The GLA and the All England Club defended the challenge, stating that the decision was a planning judgment that was properly exercised and that the restrictions were not material.
Wimbledon tennis expansion plan clears legal hurdle
The Judge Saini dismissed the challenge in the ruling on Monday. "In short, the defendant's decision on the relevance of deliverability, applying to both the statutory trust and the restrictive covenants, was a planning judgment rationally exercised and having regard to appropriate and relevant factors," he said. The proposals would see seven maintenance buildings, access points, and an area of parkland with permissive public access constructed, in addition to the courts and associated infrastructure.
Deborah Jevan who is the Chair of the All England club stated that they are delighted that Mr. Justice Saini has dismissed the challenge to the GLA’s decision to grant planning permission for their plans to transform the former Wimbledon Park golf course. The next hearing is set to be in January regarding if there is a statutory trust over the former golf course land.
