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Metro
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Metro
Here's how Wimbledon expansion could look after High Court ruling
Plans to nearly treble Wimbledon's size will proceed after a judge denied a legal challenge against the expansion's planning permission. The proposals will see an additional 39 courts, including an 8-000-seat stadium, called the Parkland Show Court, to be added. Space will be created on the grounds of the old Wimbledon Park golf club. As well as the new court infrastructure, seven new maintenance buildings and access points will be built around the site. The conversion of the private golf course will also open up around 27 acres of parkland with public access. Meanwhile, parts of Wimbledon Lake will be remodelled, including the addition of a boardwalk around and across it. The works will increase the daily spectator capacity for the annual summer tennis tournament from 42,000 to 50,000. As a result, the qualifying event for the competition will be able to move back to the site from nearby Roehampton. The 120-year-old Wimbledon Park golf club was sold to the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), which owns the site and runs the tournament, for £65 million in 2018. Wimbledon's expansion is thought to have been driven by fears that it could start to trail rival Grand Slam venues in Australia, France and the US who have invested hundreds of millions in state-of-the-art upgrades in recent years. Bosses hope the park will be able to partly open next year, with the grass courts completed by 2027. They would enter use for the qualifiers and championships by 2029 after the grass has matured. The Parkland Show Court is expected to be complete by 2030. Save Wimbledon Park's (SWP), the campaign group behind the High Court challenge, suggested it will appeal, adding: 'SWP is not taking this step lightly but believes that the GLA did make a significant legal error in the way it dealt with the special legal status of the park.' Christopher Coombe, director of SWP, said: 'This judgment would, if it stands, set a worrying precedent for the unwanted development of protected green belt and public open spaces around London and across the country. 'The (All England Club) will surely have noted the considerable public outrage about this development, most recently expressed outside the law courts, and we continue to hope that they could be persuaded to engage constructively with us, with a view to achieving a resolution of this four-year-old dispute.' Deborah Jevans CBE, chairwoman of the All England Club, said: 'We are delighted that Mr Justice Saini has dismissed the challenge to the GLA's decision to grant planning permission for our plans to transform the former Wimbledon Park golf course. 'It is clear that we have a robust planning permission that enables us to create a permanent home for the Wimbledon qualifying competition as well as delivering 27 acres of beautiful new parkland for local people, providing public access to land that has been a private golf course for over 100 years. 'We have spoken to more than 10,000 people who have taken the time to come in person and understand our plans in detail. 'The vast majority of people just want us to get on and deliver the many benefits on offer as soon as possible. 'We now turn our attention to separate legal proceedings to give everyone reassurance that there is not, nor has there ever been, a statutory trust over the former golf course land. 'This hearing is due to take place in January 2026.' Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan added: 'This is welcome news that will cement Wimbledon's reputation as the greatest tennis competition in the world and London as the sporting capital of the world. 'This scheme will bring a significant range of economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits to the local area, the wider capital and the UK economy, creating new jobs and green spaces.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Wimbledon finalist announces break from tennis to 'rediscover the joy of simply living' MORE: British tennis star given four-year doping ban 18 months after being cleared of wrongdoing MORE: I'm the tennis-mad fan who proposed on Henman Hill at Wimbledon
Telegraph
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Wimbledon reveals plans for Henman Hill makeover
Wimbledon has announced plans to upgrade and expand the grassy expanse located next to Court One, commonly known as 'Henman Hill' or 'Murray Mound', to celebrate its 150th anniversary. The iconic grass slope is annually packed with fans, particularly for the big matches when those without tickets to the stadium courts gather to watch the action on a big screen. To coincide with the All England Championships' 150th celebrations in 2027, Wimbledon has proposed to expand the hill's capacity by around 20 per cent, including new facilities for wheelchairs, as well as more seating and more eco-diversity. On Thursday, the All England Club announced the existing paths would be removed after next year's championships and replaced with permeable pathways as well as more provisions for shade and a new pergola, in addition to more flowers. Deborah Jevans CBE, chair of the All England Club, commented: 'The redevelopment of our world-famous Hill, in time for The Championships 2027, will allow even more tennis fans to enjoy its unique atmosphere and vantage point. I am particularly pleased that these plans will increase the accessibility of The Hill for our guests using wheelchairs or who have additional accessibility requirements. 'It is an exciting opportunity as we look towards 2027 and the 150th anniversary of the first Championships.' Ruth Hopkins, general manager and head of access at disabled fans group Level Playing Field, welcomed the proposed changes in a statement: 'I am delighted that Level Playing Field has played an important role in working with the All England Club to enhance their world-famous Hill to be an inclusive and accessible space for everyone attending Wimbledon. These plans will deliver significant improvements for all guests but particularly for those with accessibility requirements.' The revamp is yet to be confirmed and a consultation event in April will invite local residents to offer their feedback before planning permission is sought from the local borough, Merton. Wimbledon is currently facing a High Court confrontation with local residents after being granted planning permission for an expansion of the site by the Deputy Mayor of London. A judicial review is scheduled for July 8 and 9 over the controversial plans to build an 8,000-seater stadium and new tennis courts on the site of the old Wimbledon Park golf course. Those plans have been contested by the Save Wimbledon Park campaign and local MPs since it was first proposed in 2021.
