"High Court approves Wimbledon tennis site expansion plans"

A planned extension of the Wimbledon tennis site has been approved after the high court upheld an earlier decision permitting the addition of 39 new courts, including an 8,000-seat main court, on the former grounds of Wimbledon Park golf club.

The legal challenge, which began during this year’s 138th championships, was brought by the campaign group Save Wimbledon Park against the Greater London Authority (GLA) for its approval last year of the All England Lawn Tennis Club’s plans to significantly expand the site.

The group sought to overturn the original decision from September 2024 and have the matter reviewed again by the GLA.

Local residents have opposed the reduction of green space and the potential decade-long disturbance to the area. They also raised concerns about the legality of the project, as the expansion would be on metropolitan open land, which holds the same protection as green belt areas.

The club has argued that the previously private golf course will be transformed into publicly accessible land, including a 9.3-hectare park, with additional open space available outside of the championship period. It maintains that upgrading the facilities is essential for players and the tournament's reputation.

The conflict dates back to 1993 when the All England Club purchased the golf course from Merton council for £5.2 million under terms requiring the land to be used only for leisure, recreation, or as open space. The campaign group, which gathered £200,000 before the review, contends that the expansion breaches this agreement.

In addition to the judicial review, a separate case initiated by the All England Club will decide whether the land is intended for public recreation or falls under a statutory trust.