London: The All England Lawn Tennis Club, host of the Wimbledon Championships, received approval for a significant expansion project from the Greater London Authority (GLA) on Friday, seemingly putting an end to a lengthy dispute with opponents of the ambitious plans.
The proposal includes the addition of 39 new grass courts and a new 8,000-seat show court, transforming adjacent open land, including a golf course and Wimbledon Park. During a public hearing at City Hall, Jules Pipe, Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration, and the Fire Service, stated that the controversial scheme would maintain the Wimbledon Championships’ status as the world’s premier tournament and offer “significant benefits” to the local community.
Opposition to the plans, which will utilize metropolitan open land to triple Wimbledon’s footprint, included local resident groups, environmentalists, and several local MPs. Upon the GLA’s decision announcement, shouts of “shame” echoed from the crowd.
Debbie Jevans, Chair of the All England Club, expressed her enthusiasm about the decision. “We are delighted that the Greater London Authority has resolved to approve our applications to transform the former Wimbledon Park Golf Course,” she said in a statement. “Our proposals will deliver 27 acres of newly accessible parkland for the community and enable us to bring the Qualifying Competition for The Championships onsite, with all of the substantial economic and employment opportunities this presents.”
Opponents of the expansion argued that it would create a “tennis industrial complex” that would remain largely unused for most of the year, leading to environmental degradation. “Every stage of this project will be delivered with meticulous attention to detail and the utmost respect for both our neighbors and the environment,” Jevans added.
Currently, the qualifying competition takes place a few miles away at Roehampton. The All England Club asserts that relocating the qualifying tournament onsite would be favorable for players and fans, allowing attendance of up to 10,000 daily, compared to just 2,000 at Roehampton. The club also claims the expansion would mitigate environmental impacts by enhancing the Wimbledon Park lake and planting 1,500 trees. Seven of the new championship-standard grass tennis courts will be available for community use, according to the AELTC.
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Friday’s decision may signify the conclusion of the opposition’s efforts, which could have sought a judicial review of the AELTC’s plans. However, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities, and Local Government, has expressed her contentment with the GLA’s ruling on the application.
In a statement on Friday, Pipe noted, “These plans for the site of a former private golf course will bring significant benefits to the local area, the wider capital, and the UK economy, providing increased access to open green space and sport, new parkland, and a host of new jobs. Hosting qualifying events on the same site as the Championships will put Wimbledon on a global footing with other Grand Slam tournaments and ensure it remains one of the world’s top sporting events.”
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While weighing the advantages and disadvantages of the proposals, the GLA projected that the plans would generate approximately £336 million ($449.53 million) for the UK economy each year and create 40 new jobs annually, with more than 250 additional jobs during the Championships.
The plans had previously received approval from the London Borough of Merton last year, but the planning committee of neighboring Wandsworth, where a small portion of the AELTC’s plans falls, had rejected them. The decision was subsequently referred to the Greater London Authority. London Mayor Sadiq Khan had recused himself from the process due to his public support for the plan three years ago.
