Wimbledon’s ambitious expansion plans are set to go before the High Court, as the project with more twists than a five-set epic takes another turn.
There has been significant local opposition ever since 2018 when the All England Club bought up the lease on the neighbouring Wimbledon Park Golf Club with the intent to build on the land.
Wimbledon cleared a major hurdle in September when planning permission was granted by the Mayor of London’s office but local residents vowed to fight on in the courts.
And now, in what is understood to be an attempt by the club to get ahead of any legal action, Wimbledon have taken the proactive step of putting an element of the case before the High Court.
One of the arguments put forward by objectors was that the land is held in statutory trust for public use and therefore should not be built on.
Having received legal advice arguing both ways, the planning committee commented: ‘Ultimately the matter can only be resolved by the court.’
The All England Lawn Tennis Club received planning permission over their ambitious proposals to expand their grounds into Wimbledon Park
Wimbledon are now taking a proactive measure against potential legal action that could come against them over the move by putting an element of the case before the High Court
By going to court, the club will hope to avoid the messy spectacle of local residents taking legal action against its plans
And so in a statement on Wednesday the All England Club said: ‘Our position, and that adopted by Merton Council on advice, was and remains that there is not, nor has there ever been, a statutory trust affecting the former Wimbledon Park Golf Course land.
‘In the circumstances we recognise that the correct thing to do, at this stage, is to put the matter before the court to establish that there is no trust over the land.
‘Today we have issued a letter before action in order to begin this court process.
‘We believe that having this matter resolved is an important step that will deliver reassurance to us and to the local community.’
By going to court, the club will hope to avoid the messy spectacle of local residents taking legal action against its plans.
Wimbledon’s opinion is that, because the land was in use as a private golf course it cannot be considered public.
The planning committee also decided that, even if a statutory trust was in place, Wimbledon’s promises to turn some of the golf course into parkland would satisfy the ‘public use’ provision.
That means even if the High Court decision does not go Wimbledon’s way, the project would be far from dead in the water, but it would leave the prospect of yet more legal and administrative wrangling.
What is abundantly clear is that the club remain a long way away from spades in the ground.
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