Wimbledon's ambitious expansion plans have taken a significant step forward after being given the green light by Merton Council.
Merton’s planning committee met on Thursday night and councillors voted six to four in favour to approve the All England Club’s plan of building an 8,000-seater show court and 38 other grass courts on the former Wimbledon Park Golf Course.
Local residents have been opposed to the plans and a petition organised by Save Wimbledon Park has attracted more than 13,000 signatures.
Around 75 members of the organisation gathered outside the meeting to protest before last night’s meeting, with one sign reading: “Trees not tennis”.
When the result for the vote was announced, a spectator in the public gallery shouted that the council chamber had become a “climate crime scene” and was asked to leave.
Planning officers did advise that proposals would result in “physical harm” to Metropolitan Open Land - but concluded “very special circumstances” meant “substantial public benefits would clearly outweigh [the] harm”.
A spokesperson for the London Borough of Merton said: “After considering the officer’s report, relevant submissions, and the relevant planning framework, the independent planning committee, made up of councillors from all parties, voted to approve the application made by the All England Lawn Tennis Ground (AELTG) for expansion of its site at Wimbledon.
“There are further stages in the planning process and the land remains subject to covenants contained in the transfer of 1993 from the Council to AELTG.
“Until these covenants are properly addressed by AELTG they operate to restrict the use and development of the land as proposed in the planning application.”
If the plan goes ahead, the new courts are unlikely to be in use before 2030 at the earliest.
There are still hurdles for the All England Club to clear, though, as Wandsworth Council, whose boundaries also cover part of the site, are set to rule on it next month.
The matter would then be referred to London Mayor Sadiq Khan and the Greater London Authority, with arguments not just over planning but covenants regarding the site and the legality of the expansion project.
The covenants are a complex issue and date back to 1993, when Merton Council bought the freehold of the golf course.
It was stipulated by Merton Council at the time that “the golf course land will be retained as open space. The whole stretch has been designated Metropolitan Open Land. We have declared it a conservation area and placed strong covenants on the sale”.
The then-chairman of the All England Club said “we completely understand and support everyone’s determination to keep the land open and we have purchased the land on that basis”.
The All England Club wants to build the 39 new courts so that Wimbledon qualifying can take place on site, as is the case with the other three Grand Slams.
The event is currently staged three-and-a-half miles away at the Bank of England Sports Centre in Roehampton.
Iain Simpson, Chair Wimbledon Park Residents’ Association, said: “We are not at all surprised by the outcome of the vote. Most of the inconsistencies in the report were glossed over.
“Merton did not even bring their own experts into the hearing, and instead relied on the applicant to advise the councillors who were asking the questions! In addition their pronouncements on the environment still ignored their own expert advice where it didn’t suit them!
“On all that was said about the stadium and the buildings, these are still in outline - and outline designs on protected land contravene their own planning regulations.
“They therefore cannot be discussed in any meaningful way. This is just a stage in what will be a long process for which Save Wimbledon Park is well prepared.”
