Save Wimbledon Park Campaign Seeks Court of Appeal Hearing
Legal battle against AELTC Expansion plans enters a new phase
Thelma Ruby, actress and Andy Hamilton, writer. Picture: SWP
The long-running legal battle over the proposed expansion of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) into Wimbledon Park has entered a new phase, with campaigners from Save Wimbledon Park Ltd (SWP) applying for permission to appeal to the Court of Appeal. The application follows a High Court ruling in July that rejected their judicial review of the planning permission granted by the Greater London Authority (GLA) in September 2024.
SWP argues that the GLA’s decision to approve the development failed to properly consider the statutory trust and restrictive covenants that protect the former golf course land as public open space. The campaign group maintains that the land is subject to legal protections that prohibit built development and that these protections were not adequately weighed in the planning process.
Jeremy Hudson, a director of SWP Ltd, described the case as one of public interest, stating that “unwanted development of public open spaces is proposed all over London: Wimbledon Park is just one example.†He added that the statutory trust and covenants were imposed in the public interest and should have been central to the planning decision.
The AELTC’s plans include constructing 38 new grass courts, a 8,000-seat stadium, and associated infrastructure on the former Wimbledon Park Golf Course. The club argues that the expansion is necessary to relocate its qualifying tournament from Roehampton, where its lease is due to expire.
However, SWP contends that the urgency of the project was overstated and that the GLA’s own officers concluded the scheme was not time-sensitive—a view accepted by the Deputy Mayor and upheld by Mr Justice Saini.
The campaign has drawn support from local residents, environmental groups, and public figures concerned about the loss of Metropolitan Open Land (MOL). The proposed development would involve the removal of approximately 800 mature trees and significant changes to a historic landscape designed by Capability Brown. Critics argue that the scale of the project is incompatible with the character and ecological value of the park.
CGI of the aerial view of the completed scheme. Picture: AELTC
SWP’s appeal also challenges the High Court’s treatment of the AELTC’s ability to implement the development, given the unresolved issue of the restrictive covenants. Mr Justice Saini acknowledged in his ruling that the covenants remain in place and require the land to be kept open and free of built development. SWP argues that Merton Council, which holds the covenants on behalf of the community, has remained silent on whether it intends to release them.
The campaign has secured funding for the appeal through a successful crowdfunding effort and intends to seek further support if permission to appeal is granted. SWP has also applied for renewed Aarhus protection to shield itself from adverse costs.
Supporters of the campaign include actress Thelma Ruby, writer Andy Hamilton, and Caroline Day of the Whitewebbs Park campaign, who have all emphasised the broader implications of the case for public green spaces across London. Ruby warned that the outcome could set a precedent for the loss of other MOL sites, while Hamilton described the expansion as a “devastating cost to the local environment and community.â€
A decision on whether the appeal can proceed is expected within the next two to four months. If granted, the hearing would likely take place in 2026, extending a dispute that has already spanned four years. Campaigners continue to call for dialogue with AELTC and Merton Council in hopes of reaching a resolution that preserves the park’s public character.
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