Objectors to Wimbledon’s controversial expansion shouted “shame on you” and may now seek a judicial review after the London Mayor’s office granted planning permission in the face of stiff local opposition.

While the All England Club’s representatives were jubilant at the news, which gives them the right to build 39 new grass courts on neighbouring Wimbledon Park Golf Club, the protesters said they could expect further challenges.

“We’ve got at least two avenues open to us,” resident Simon Wright told Telegraph Sport. “There’s the AELTC’s own legal opinion, which says the land should have been held in trust for the benefit of residents. And there is the covenant that exists on the land, which was issued by Merton Council in 1993, and which, if enacted, would prevent any building on any part of the park.”

The Save Wimbledon Park campaign – which gathered more than 20,000 signatures – comprises dozens of local lawyers as well as several showbusiness figures including 99-year-old former Coronation Street actress Thelma Ruby. The movement’s unofficial communications man is Jonathan Morrish, formerly Michael Jackson’s press agent and a senior executive at Sony.

Planning permission was granted on Friday afternoon by Jules Pipe, the deputy London Mayor, who stepped in after Sadiq Khan recused himself. There were a few scattered boos in City Hall, as well as shouts of “Shame on you” from the balcony.

On the eve of the hearing, it had seemed as though the decision might be referred to housing secretary Angela Rayner, whose department issued a so-called “holding notice” earlier this week on the grounds that she needed time to consider her position. But the holding notice was dropped on Friday morning, after Rayner had written to the Wimbledon Society to say that she does not plan to call in the proposals after all.