Trial over Wimbledon expansion plans to begin at High Court
The dispute continues over land use for planned tennis site expansion
The latest High Court trial revolving around the expansion plan for the Wimbledon tennis site is set to begin on Friday.
The All England Club is taking campaign group Save Wimbledon Park (SWP) to court over whether a statutory trust governs land earmarked for its proposed development.
Plans include building 38 new tennis courts, an 8,000-seat stadium, seven maintenance buildings, parkland with public access, and improvements to Wimbledon Lake. Development would centre on the former Wimbledon Park Golf Club, with permission granted by the Greater London Authority (GLA) in 2024, paving the way for Wimbledon qualifiers to be hosted.
This legal battle follows a previous case where SWP contested the GLA’s decision to approve the plans but lost. Permission to appeal against that ruling was granted in November 2023.
Disputed trust and land-use claim
The All England Club argues that a statutory trust never existed over the land or ceased when they acquired the freehold from Merton Council in 1993. The club acknowledges that if a trust exists, it may interfere with expansion plans.
SWP asserts that the statutory trust survived and continues to dictate how the land can be used, claiming it should remain available for public recreational use. They allege restrictive covenants were agreed upon when the freehold was bought, safeguarding the land's openness.
The trial will take place at the Rolls Building in London
Previous developments
During last year’s legal challenge, barristers for SWP argued that covenants restrict the land’s use to prevent impairment of the public’s appreciation of its openness.
Planning officers reportedly considered the trust and covenants during their decision-making process. However, according to Russell Harris KC, representing the All England Club, the factors were not deemed "material" to the plans.
The saga over Wimbledon’s expansion continues as SWP prepares to appeal the earlier ruling at a later date.