The residents’ group fighting Wimbledon’s tennis expansion plans — which include adding one stadium court and 38 further courts to the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) grounds — has formally “started legal action to challenge the validity of the Mayor of London’s decision to grant planning permission for the AELTC redevelopment of the former Wimbledon Park golf course.”

In a statement dated January 3, Save Wimbledon Park (SWP) confirmed that it will challenge the permission granted by the Greater London Authority (GLA) at a public hearing Friday September 27. It names the AELTC as an interested party, along with Merton and Wandsworth Councils.

SWP contends that “the planning decision made errors of law and planning policy” concerning the Wimbledon Park golf course land which the AELTC bought in 1993. SWP believes that the new planning permission contradicts a “statutory trust,” which requires certain areas of land to be kept free for public recreation. The AELTC believes that this does not apply to the land in question, and both parties are seeking legal judgment.

A High Court judge will now assess the legal challenges and determine whether or not to proceed to a judicial review. This process is expected to take a few months; any review would likely take place in 2026.

SWP also contends that the development of Wimbledon Park Golf Club, which the AELTC bought in 2018, was itself in breach of that trust, as well as “restrictive covenants” that say the land should not be used “other than for leisure or recreational purposes or as an open space.” It will argue that Wimbledon’s expansion does not fulfil those provisions.

The GLA issued final confirmation of the planning permission in late November. The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, recused himself from the process in October 2023 and his deputy, Jules Pipe, approved the AELTC’s proposals after a 221-page GLA report found “no material considerations that are considered to justify the refusal of consent.”

A GLA spokesperson 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.”

An AELTC spokesperson declined to comment and described the challenge as a matter for the GLA.

The AELTC believes its plans will ensure that Wimbledon does not fall behind the Australian, French, and U.S. Opens in terms of prestige. One of the 39 new courts will be an 8,000-seater stadium, and the other 38 will allow the AELTC to bring the qualifying event on-site. That event is held the week before the main tournament starts, and Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam of the four not to already have its qualifying event on-site. Wimbledon’s third show court, No. 2 Court, is the smallest of the third courts across the majors.

(Adrian Dennis / AFP via Getty Images)