Legal fight over Wimbledon's controversial expansion is reignited with challenge over mayor's ruling

The row over Wimbledon's controversial plan to redevelop the world's most famous tennis club has been reignited after a group opposed to the expansion took legal action against the Greater London Authority.

The All England Lawn Club was given the go ahead to build 39 new courts, including an 8,000-seat show court, on the adjacent former Wimbledon Park Golf Club and nearly triple the size of its current site.

Jules Pipe, London’s deputy mayor for planning, cited the sporting, financial and community benefits to both the tournament and city.

But campaign group Save Wimbledon Park is not giving up the fight and wants the park kept for people who live in the area.

"We have taken this momentous step because our directors, members and the community feel strongly that this precious, historic and highly protected environment should be preserved from inappropriate development, be allowed to remain accessible, and continue to be available for community use for sport and recreation," said Jeremy Hudson of Save Wimbledon Park.

"This step is not just for our local community but also important for many other Metropolitan Open Land spaces under threat of development."

Central to Wimbledon’s case has been the desire to hold its qualifying competition, which is currently staged at nearby Roehampton, on its own land.

Chair Debbie Jevans said the proposals would deliver 27 acres of newly accessible parkland for the community and "enable us to bring the qualifying competition for The Championships onsite, with all of the substantial economic and employment opportunities this presents."

She added: "Every stage of this project will be delivered with a meticulous attention to detail and the utmost respect for both our neighbours and the environment.

"We look forward to working with all parties to bring this vision to life, delivering one of London’s greatest sporting transformations since the 2012 Games and securing Wimbledon’s future at the pinnacle of world sport."

The Mayor of London’s office took charge of the application in January after Merton Council approved the plans and Wandsworth Council rejected them late last year.

The land for the proposed expansion sits primarily in Merton but one section of it is in Wandsworth.Mayor Sadiq Khan recused himself from the process having previously expressed public support for the development, leaving the matter in Pipe’s hands.Plans were first submitted to Merton back in 2021, three years after the All England Club bought out golf club members with the intention of developing the land, and the issue has become increasingly acrimonious.

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London, said: "The Mayor believes this scheme will bring a significant range of benefits including economic, social and cultural benefits to the local area, the wider capital and the UK economy, creating new jobs and cementing Wimbledon's reputation as the greatest tennis competition in the world.

"It is understood that an application has been made for the court to determine this matter and it is therefore inappropriate for the Mayor to comment further at this stage."

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