London's deputy mayor takes over decision on Wimbledon tennis complex expansion

Proposal for 39 new courts in Wimbledon Park includes an 8,000-seat show court

The planned expansion of the Wimbledon site. Photo: AELTC

The Mayor of London's office has taken over the decision to grant planning permission for the All England Lawn Tennis Club's plans to almost triple the size of the Wimbledon world-famous tennis tournament site.

After a hearing on Monday, the deputy mayor, Jules Pipe, issued a direction under the Town and Country Planning [Mayor of London] Order giving him the authority to become the local planning authority to determine the application.

The decision will be made by Mr Pipe after the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, recused himself for publicly expressing support for the expansion in 2021.

"This is a major planning application, of London-wide significance," a spokesman for the Mayor of London said.

"A full planning hearing will be held in due course."

The proposal, which includes 39 new courts in Wimbledon Park, one of which will be an 8,000-seat show court, was backed by Merton Council, but rejected by neighbouring Wandsworth.

That council ruled that there were no “very special circumstances” to outweigh the harm to and loss of open land.

Both councils are required to approve the proposal for the complex, which straddles the two areas.

Merton Council referred the application to the Greater London Authority after the split decision.

The application has met fierce resistance from some local residents, with pressure group Save Wimbledon Park campaigning against the proposals.

The All England Club wants to build on a site in Wimbledon Park, which used to be owned by a golf club and is classed as Metropolitan Open Land, given protection that treats such spaces in London in a similar way to the green belt.

This means the land can only be built on in “very special circumstances”.

The club says that the project, which will bring the qualifying tournament, currently held in Roehampton, to Wimbledon, will turn 9.3 hectares of previously private land into a new public park and create hundreds of jobs.

The planned expansion of the Wimbledon tennis site. Image: AELTC

But many in the community object to the loss of the open land.

They say the project would rip out almost 300 trees and pour thousands of tonnes of concrete into the ground, resulting in the loss of biodiversity.

Iain Simpson, Chairman of the Save Wimbledon Park group, welcomed the Deputy Mayor's decision to review this application.

He said: "The consequences of aggressive development of open space, particularly on MOL, has, as they say, London-wide significance.

"In an election year, it is notable that all political parties have declared their opposition to the AELTC’s plans. Save Wimbledon Park have been fighting this application since it was made three years ago. We have been urging the AELTC to speak to us, their local communities: it is time for them to think again."

Wimbledon through the years - in pictures

A view of the outside courts and centre court at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon, London. All photos: Getty Images

Fans queue to enter Wimbledon on day one of The Championships, the world's oldest tennis tournament, in 2021.

The UK's Andy Murray, a Wimbledon champion, serves to his opponent under the closed retractable roof of Centre Court in 2021.

Fans stream past court 18 during The Championships in 2019.

Spectators applaud and take photographs as Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates his record eighth Wimbledon men's singles title on the balcony of Centre Court in 2017.

Serena Williams leaves court with the Venus Rosewater Dish after her victory in the final of the Ladies' Singles in 2015. She has won the title seven times.

Strawberries - the traditional food of Wimbledon spectators - are carried around the grounds in 2013.

Fans cheer as Scotland's Andy Murray poses with the men's singles trophy in 2013, ending the UK's 77-year wait for a home-grown winner.

Andy Murray and his brother Jamie compete in the London 2012 Olympic Games at Wimbledon.

Roger Federer poses for a portrait at Wimbledon in 2007.

Tennis racquets and equipment from a bygone age displayed at the All England Lawn Tennis Club Museum at Wimbledon.

Devoted fans often create large queues for a limited amount of tickets sold on the day. These fans are queuing for tickets in their sleeping bags in 1986.

Germany's Boris Becker celebrates after his defeat of Kevin Curren in the Men's Singles Final in 1985.

Chair umpire Jenny Higgs and the tournament umpires show off a new official uniform before the start of The Championships in 1981.

Sweden's five-time singles champion Bjorn Borg is surrounded by young fans in 1973.

A view of No.1 court in 1970. It was replaced with a new No.1 court in the 1990s, with a retractable roof added in time for the 2019 tournament.

A view of the courts at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club during The Championships in 1966.

British tennis player D W Butler in action on Centre Court in 1946, during the first Championships at Wimbledon since the Second World War.

Fred Perry, the Englishman who won the men's singles title three times during the sport's amateur era, leaps over the net after defeating Australia's Jack Crawford in the 1934 final.

Diana Waring, 11, is lifted up for a view of the Junior Tennis Championships of Great Britain at the All England Lawn Tennis Club in 1930.

Suzanne Lenglen of France and Lili de Alvarez of Spain at The Championships in 1926.

Anthony Wilding of New Zealand and Henry Roper Barrett of Britain competing in the men's singles at Wimbledon in 1910.

Wilfred Baddeley and Joshua Pim in action during the men's final at Wimbledon in 1891.

The first international tennis match takes place at Wimbledon, in 1883. The match, between the twins William and Ernest Renshaw of England, and Clarence M Clark and JS Clark of the USA, was won by the Renshaws.

Local MPs Stephen Hammond and Fleur Anderson also oppose it.

Debated over the plans began about two years ago, when the club first submitted proposals for the site.

All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton has said the project offers “significant social, economic and environmental improvements, including turning 23 acres of previously private land into a new public park, alongside hundreds of jobs and tens of millions of pounds in economic benefits for our neighbours in Wandsworth, Merton and across London".