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Campaign group secures permission to apply for judicial review over redevelopment of former golf course in Wimbledon

A Planning Court judge has given campaign group Save Wimbledon Park (SWP) permission to bring a legal challenge over the Mayor of London’s decision to grant planning permission for the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC)’s proposed redevelopment of the former Wimbledon Park golf course.

The proposals will result in an additional 38 grass courts, as well as a new Show Court.

SWP is advancing three grounds of challenge, arguing that the planning decision made errors of law and planning policy, as it failed to:

  1. take into account the implications of the statutory public recreation trust and the restrictive covenants, both of which prevent the proposed development; and
  2. note that recent golf course development was in planning policy terms “deliberate damage” to this historic heritage asset, such that the rectification of such damage should not count as a benefit; and
  3. appreciate that the proposed private tennis entertainment complex was not an “alternative sports and recreational provision” as required by planning policy.

Mrs Justice Lang said the claimant had raised arguable grounds which merit consideration at a full hearing.

The legal action named the AELTC and the London Boroughs of Merton and Wandsworth as Interested Parties.

However, the two councils do not intend to contest the claim and are not participating in the proceedings, Mrs Justice Lang said.

The claimant’s application for an Aarhus Convention costs limits order was not opposed by the other parties.

SWP said when it announced the legal challenge last month that the AELTC have stated that they wish to start their own legal proceedings, asking a court to decide whether the former golf course is subject to the statutory public recreation trust.

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said at the time that the Mayor believes the scheme would bring a significant range of benefits including economic, social and cultural benefits to the local area, the wider capital and the UK economy, creating new jobs and cementing Wimbledon's reputation as the greatest tennis competition in the world.