Wimbledon Club Faces Legal Battle Over Expansion

The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) is taking legal action to confirm the legitimacy of its ambitious expansion plans, which involve constructing 39 new courts and an 8,000-seat stadium on the former Wimbledon Park Golf Club land. Despite having received planning permission from the Greater London Authority, local residents have raised concerns about a potential statutory trust that could restrict development. AELTC asserts that no such trust exists and aims to proactively resolve the issue in court to prevent any legal challenges from opponents. A spokesperson emphasized the importance of establishing the absence of a trust to reassure the community and facilitate the expansion project. The club's plans, if successful, would nearly triple the venue's size and provide year-round benefits, including 27 acres of accessible parkland. The timeline for resolving this legal matter remains uncertain, with the possibility of a judicial review also looming.