The All England Lawn Tennis Club has received the green light to proceed with a major £200 million expansion of Wimbledon, following a High Court ruling that dismissed a legal challenge brought by local campaigners. The decision, handed down by Mr Justice Saini on Monday, marks the end of a lengthy legal dispute over the future of the historic parkland adjacent to the tournament’s grounds.

All England Lawn Tennis Club
Wimbledon
Mr Justice Saini

The contested development will see the former Wimbledon Park Golf Club transformed into an extension of the existing Grand Slam venue. The plans include the construction of 38 new grass courts and an 8,000-seat show stadium, enabling Wimbledon to host all of its qualifying matches on-site for the first time in its history. In total, the new complex would nearly triple the size of the current facilities.

Grand Slam

At the heart of the case was a challenge led by campaign group Save Wimbledon Park, which argued that the land is covered by restrictive covenants dating back to the early 1990s, when the golf course was purchased from the local authority. Members of the group also emphasized that the area is a Grade II*-listed heritage site, part of a landscape originally designed by renowned 18th-century architect Capability Brown.

Capability Brown

“You could not have a more protected piece of land in London,” said Sasha White KC, representing the group during proceedings. He claimed the expansion would irreparably harm the historic character of the site, and that the planning process had overlooked key legal safeguards connected to the land’s status.

However, the judge found no grounds to block the development, concluding that the Greater London Authority acted within its legal remit when granting planning permission. In his ruling, Justice Saini wrote that the GLA’s decision reflected “a planning judgment rationally exercised and having regard to appropriate and relevant factors,” rejecting the central claims made by the campaigners.

Greater London Authority
Justice Saini

The All England Club welcomed the verdict and reiterated its commitment to responsibly developing the site. The club has said the new courts will not only improve the tournament’s infrastructure but also offer year-round access to the wider community. “We remain committed to delivering a transformation project that respects the environment and history of Wimbledon Park while securing the future of The Championships,” an AELTC spokesperson stated following the ruling.

All England Club
The Championships

Nonetheless, opposition remains vocal. Comedian and local resident Andy Hamilton, who joined the campaign, criticized the project’s scale and environmental impact. Speaking to reporters, he said, “I’m vehemently opposed to this expansion. It’s a plan that will decimate the park at huge cost to the local environment and to the local community.”

Andy Hamilton

Despite the High Court’s decision, Save Wimbledon Park has not ruled out further legal action. The group indicated it is considering whether to appeal the ruling, meaning the legal battle may not yet be over.

If the project goes ahead as scheduled, construction is expected to begin in the near future, with the ambition that the new facilities could be ready in time for the 2030 Championships. For Wimbledon, the expansion is seen as a pivotal step in maintaining its position among the world’s leading tennis events — a move that now appears firmly within reach.

Championships