A major dispute over expansion plans for Wimbledon, involving the All England Lawn Tennis Club and local residents, is set to resume on Monday as the London mayor’s office makes a decision on the potential use of a Grade II*-listed park.
The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), which has managed the tournament since 1877, has requested approval to construct a new stadium with a capacity of 8,000 seats and 38 additional tennis courts on Wimbledon Park. This park was designed by Capability Brown in the 18th century and is designated as “metropolitan open land” for special protection.
The proposal to expand the tennis championship grounds from 17 hectares to 46 hectares, almost tripling its size, has been given the green light by Merton council. However, Wandsworth council, which shares jurisdiction over Wimbledon Park, has rejected the plans. This means that both councils needed to approve the plans for them to move forward.
Merton has passed the decision to the Greater London Authority for a ruling on Monday by Jules Pipe, the deputy mayor of London. Pipe may reject the application or request a thorough planning review, although this is not expected to begin until after the upcoming general election. Those with inside knowledge suggest that a full review is the most probable result.
The final decision rests with London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, however, he has stepped aside due to his previous public endorsement of the expansion in 2021.
The AELTC’s construction plans have sparked controversy as they would result in the removal of nearly 300 trees, with some residents denouncing it as “corporate ecocide”. The club argues that the majority of the trees are of low quality and has pledged to plant 1,500 new trees.
Over 16,000 individuals have signed a petition to preserve Wimbledon Park, and the councils have received 2,000 letters expressing objection. Both the Conservative MP, Stephen Hammond, and Labour MP Fleur Anderson have united in opposition to the All EnglandAELTC’s proposed plans.
I am against these proposals as they involve a large-scale development on environmentally protected land. This will jeopardize all of the green areas in London. The development will only include a small portion of public park, and AELTC has declined to safeguard it from potential future development.
I encourage all residents of London who are worried about our ability to use parks and breathe clean air to share their disapproval with City Hall regarding the proposed development of Wimbledon Park for the tennis tournament.
Iain Simpson, the leader of the Save Wimbledon Park organization, stated: “Despite forming in the summer of 2021, our stance on AELTC’s proposed plans remains unchanged. If the supposed benefits to the community are truly significant, why won’t they have a discussion with us and clarify what those benefits are? The size of the development is excessive, as acknowledged by both MPs, and the impact on the environment is severe.”
The AELTC spokesperson stated that their plans would bring about considerable improvements in terms of social, economic, and environmental aspects. This includes the creation of a new public park with 23 acres of previously private land, as well as the generation of hundreds of jobs and tens of millions of pounds in economic benefits for the surrounding areas of Wandsworth, Merton, and London as a whole.
