AELTC Wimbledon Park Project - There must be a better way
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
The AELTC have been embroiled in disputes and litigation about this project with their community for five years. Many more years of dispute are anticipated. They have conceded that their current plan breaches the Covenants they gave in 1993. The Covenants have still not been addressed. Expert Tennis-planning architects have put forward alternative ideas which would avoid their breach and significantly improve the current plan.
We have tried for 15 months now to discuss this with the AELTC, first confidentially and off the record, then in public meetings. They will not engage in dialogue with us about this.
The alternative ideas have been warmly received at public meetings in Wandsworth and Wimbledon. London Boroughs of Wandsworth (LBW) and Merton (LBM) have a key role to play. LBM holds the benefit of the Covenants on trust for the people of Wimbledon and Wandsworth, communities that care about the loss of protected green belt. We have asked LBM to engage with these plans.
It’s not for SWP to have a view but we do think the plans merit serious consideration instead of blanket dismissal. Given the constant level and resolve of public opposition to AELTC’s Project, SWP continues to urge the AELTC to stop and think again. Proper consultation with the community on the alternative plans would be a great starting point.
Issue | AELTC Project | Rees/McFarlane Alternative |
Legal constraints | Accepted by AELTC to breach the 1993 Covenants and statutory trust issues. | Designed to reduce or avoid covenant conflict by removing buildings from the former golf course and strengthening public recreation access and use. |
Public access | Expands paying championship capacity but rejects long-promised lakeside access. | Provides the lakeside walkway and new permanent public destinations around the lake. |
Environmental impact | Requires substantial buildings, hardstanding, heavy-load paths, earth movement and tree loss. | Reduces built form, habitat disturbance and tree loss by using existing AELTC land more efficiently and avoiding works in the lake. |
Congestion and visitor experience | AELTC’s own planning application acknowledges existing-site congestion is not addressed. | Reworks circulation to ease pinch points and improve visitor movement across the championship complex. |
Deliverability and community risk | Continues to face litigation, public opposition and covenant uncertainty. | Offers a route to constructive review, compromise and potentially lower conflict with the community. |
Read the full explanation and see the alternative plans below
