ITV News: Protesters gather as legal challenge over Wimbledon expansion heard at High Court

ITV News | 8th July 2025

"Protesters have gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice where a campaign group’s legal challenge against plans to almost triple the size of the Wimbledon tennis site is being heard at the High Court.

Save Wimbledon Park (SWP) is challenging the decision by the Greater London Authority (GLA) to give the green light to the All England Club’s proposal to build 39 new courts, including an 8,000-seat stadium, on the former Wimbledon Park Golf Club.

Planning permission for the scheme was granted last year by Jules Pipe, London’s deputy mayor for planning, who said that the proposals “would facilitate very significant benefits” which “clearly outweigh the harm”.

Debbie Jevans, chair of the All England Club, said at the time that the proposals would deliver 27 acres of “newly accessible parkland for the community”, and would allow the qualifying tournament for Wimbledon – currently staged at Roehampton – to be held on-site.

But campaigners say that Wimbledon Park, a Grade II*-listed heritage site, is subject to similar protections as the green belt or royal parks and that allowing development on the site would set a “dangerous precedent”."

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