Plans to nearly triple the dimensions of the Wimbledon tennis web site are set to proceed after a marketing campaign group’s authorized problem in opposition to the choice to approve the proposals was dismissed by a Excessive Court docket choose.
Save Wimbledon Park (SWP) took authorized motion in opposition to the Larger London Authority’s (GLA) choice to grant planning permission final yr.
The proposals, submitted by the All England Membership, would see the development of 38 new tennis courts and an 8,000-seat stadium on the grounds of the previous Wimbledon Park Golf Membership, permitting it to host Wimbledon qualifiers on-site.
Barristers for SWP informed the Excessive Court docket earlier this month that the choice to approve the plans was “irrational” and needs to be quashed, as Wimbledon Park – a Grade II*-listed heritage web site partly designed by Lancelot “Capability” Brown – was coated by restrictions on the way it may very well be used.
The GLA and the All England Membership defended the problem, with the court docket informed that the choice was a “planning judgment properly exercised” and that the restrictions weren’t “material”.
In a ruling on Monday, Mr Justice Saini dismissed the problem.
He mentioned: “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.”
Following the ruling, SWP mentioned it has been “advised that it should” search to problem the choice, and that it believed the GLA “did make a significant legal error in the way it dealt with the special legal status of the park”.
Marketing campaign group exterior the Excessive Court docket protesting in opposition to the enlargement of Wimbledon
The proposals would see seven upkeep buildings, entry factors, and an space of parkland with permissive public entry constructed, along with the courts and related infrastructure.
They’d additionally embody work on Wimbledon Lake.
After Merton Council authorised the plans, however Wandsworth Council rejected them, the Mayor of London’s workplace took cost of the appliance, however Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan recused himself from the method after beforehand expressing public help for the event.
Planning permission for the scheme was granted by Jules Pipe, London’s deputy mayor for planning, who mentioned that the proposals “would facilitate very significant benefits” which “clearly outweigh the harm”.
Debbie Jevans, chair of the All England Membership, mentioned on the time that the proposals would ship 27 acres of “newly accessible parkland for the community”.
In written submissions, Sasha White KC mentioned that the All England Membership acquired the freehold for the golf course in 1993 and the leasehold in 2021.
The barrister informed the two-day listening to in London that the land was topic to a “statutory trust requiring it to be kept available for public recreation use” and that when the freehold was acquired, the membership entered into “restrictive covenants” governing its use.
A banner hangs on a resident’s fence close to the Wimbledon tennis centre
He mentioned this meant any plans couldn’t “restrict its use so as not to impair the appreciation of the general public of the extent or openness of the golf course land”.
He continued that separate Excessive Court docket proceedings had been ongoing over whether or not a statutory belief existed, and that if it does, the All England Membership has “accepted” that that is “incompatible with the development of the proposal”.
A listening to in that case is because of happen in January 2026.
In court docket, he mentioned: “You could not have a more protected piece of land within the planning system, frankly.”
Mark Westmoreland Smith KC, for the GLA, mentioned in written submissions that Mr Pipe obtained “detailed advice” over the “relevance” of the “alleged” belief and covenants, and made his choice on the belief that they existed.
The barrister mentioned that the choice was a “planning judgment properly exercised and having regard to the appropriate and relevant factors”.
He mentioned that planning officers “advised that the alleged obstacle” that the restrictions would current “was not itself a material consideration”.
In his written arguments, Russell Harris KC, for the All England Membership, mentioned that planning officers “acknowledged and had regard to” the belief and covenants.
In his 31-page ruling, Mr Justice Saini mentioned that the authority “properly considered the implications of the development on public open space”.
Christopher Coombe, director of SWP, mentioned following the judgment: “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.
“The (All England Membership) will certainly have famous the appreciable public outrage about this improvement, most lately expressed exterior the legislation courts, and we proceed to hope that they may very well be persuaded to have interaction constructively with us, with a view to reaching a decision of this four-year-old dispute.”
A view wanting throughout courts 4 and 5 at Wimbledon
London mayor: Wimbledon enlargement is ‘welcome information’
Sir Sadiq mentioned: “This is welcome news that will cement Wimbledon’s reputation as the greatest tennis competition in the world and London as the sporting capital of the world.
“This scheme will carry a big vary of financial, social, cultural and environmental advantages to the native space, the broader capital and the UK economic system, creating new jobs and inexperienced areas.”
Ms Jevans said in a statement that the All England Club was “delighted” with the ruling.
She said: “It’s clear that we have now a sturdy planning permission that permits us to create a everlasting residence for the Wimbledon qualifying competitors in addition to delivering 27 acres of gorgeous new parkland for native folks, offering public entry to land that has been a non-public golf course for over 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 overwhelming majority of individuals simply need us to get on and ship the various advantages on provide as quickly as doable.”
