The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) wants to build an 8,000-seat stadium on historic parkland in south-west London, but campaigners are fighting the plans in court.
The proposals would transform the former Wimbledon Park Golf Club site, adding 38 new grass courts alongside the stadium.
The Greater London Authority granted planning permission for the expansion in 2024, but Save Wimbledon Park (SWP) is challenging the decision, arguing that important legal protections over the land were not properly considered.
SWP is a local residents’ campaign group that has fought the plans since the application was submitted in 2021.
The Court of Appeal heard the case in October and has yet to deliver its ruling.
Separately, the High Court ruled in the AELTC‘s favour in March, finding the land is not protected by a statutory public recreation trust.
SWP was granted permission to appeal in July, with a hearing expected in 2027.
The AELTC says the expansion is essential to the tournament’s future as it would give the qualifying competition, currently held at Roehampton, a permanent home in SW19 and bring Wimbledon into line with the other Grand Slams.
An AELTC spokesperson said: “Our plans will create a permanent home for The Championships’ Qualifying Competition, crucial to ensuring Wimbledon remains at the pinnacle of tennis, one of the world’s best sporting events, and a global attraction for both London and the UK.”
It promises 27 acres of new public parkland, a 50% increase in green space and more than £15m of community investment, including a water sports centre, a children’s playground and a boardwalk around Wimbledon Park lake.
The club says it has spoken to more than 12,000 people at nearly 200 events since submitting its application in 2021.
The spokesperon added: “The vast majority of people just want us to get on and deliver the many benefits on offer as soon as possible, and we’re committed to doing that.”
Wimbledon Park Heritage Group chair, Sim Comfort, who backs the plans, said: “Wimbledon’s proposals will protect and enhance what’s left of the Capability Brown design, as well as modernising its usage for the enhancement both of local recreation and future Championships.”
An SWP spokesperson said: “Quite simply, the development is too large for the space in which AELTC wishes to develop.
“SWP is not anti-tennis and we fully recognise the importance of the fortnight on both a community and national level.”
They claimed 800 mature trees would be uprooted, with a 36% net loss in biodiversity.
They added: “Once the park has gone, it has gone for good.”
They say an alternative design by master tennis planner Richard Rees would keep the stadium on the existing site while creating a bigger park with permanent public access.
Featured image Credit: Allies&Morrison/AELTC
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