Wimbledon tennis expansion plans approved – despite ongoing concerns

The Wandsworth Liberal Democrats share residents’ concerns about the future of Wimbledon Park.  

For over a year, we have voiced our opposition to the plans put forward by the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), and worked on this issue with local residents’ associations, Save Wimbledon Park campaigners, and Liberal Democrat representatives on Merton Council and in the London Assembly. 

Last month, the Deputy Mayor of London, Jules Pipe, chose to go against Wandsworth Council’s wholesale rejection of AELTC’s development plans and approved it.

That approval followed conflicting decisions on the development by the planning committees of Wandsworth and Merton Councils, who rejected and accepted it, respectively. 

Dangerous precedent

If AELTC’s expansion goes ahead as planned, hundreds of mature trees will be lost and the local community would have to live through years of noise, congestion and disruption as Wimbledon Park becomes a construction site. 

Despite the Mayor Office’s decision, our position is that the expansion plans continue to disregard AELTC’s historic promises not to build on the land when it purchased it from the council, and as such may have significant implications for other protected lands across the capital. 

There are real concerns that, if AELTC’s plans are allowed to move ahead, it will set a dangerous precedent and lead to the bulldozing of dozens of other local parks across London.

Lack of local support

There is little local support for AELTC’s plans, particularly in Southfields where Wimbledon Park is a vital amenity.  Many residents are against the construction of 39 tennis courts on protected green space, as well as an 8,000-seater show court that would be bigger than the Royal Albert Hall.

City Hall’s acceptance of AELTC’s plans also calls into question the Mayor’s green ambitions for our city. The current plans would not only lead to the loss of vital green space but also result in a huge release of carbon as hundreds of mature trees are felled to make way for concrete structures. It would also exacerbate air pollution and traffic congestion – two other issues the Mayor has made a priority for London.

We will continue to challenge the plans, calling on Merton Council to enforce the Covenants on the land which they signed with AELTC and urging Wandsworth Council to use its influence with the neighbouring council to save Wimbledon Park for current residents and future generations. 

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