Wimbledon's dramatic expansion plans are set to go ahead after a judge threw out a legal challenge mounted by local residents attempting to derail the development.
Efforts to almost triple the size of the tennis Grand Slam venue in south London were fought by a campaign group seeking to use protected status against the planning authorities.
Save Wimbledon Park (SWP) took legal action against the Greater London Authority’s decision to grant planning permission last year.
The £200 million ($260 million) proposals cover construction of 38 new tennis courts and an 8,000-seat stadium on the grounds of the former Wimbledon Park Golf Club, allowing it to host Wimbledon qualifiers on-site.
Wimbledon is the only Grand Slam tournament that holds its qualifying rounds at a separate location. There are also too few practice courts in the current set-up, requiring some of the world's best players to share courts.
Debbie Jevans, chairwoman of the All England Club, has also claimed that the proposals would deliver 27 acres of “newly accessible parkland for the community”, having previously operated as a private members golf club.
In written submissions, the petitioner's barrister Sasha White said the All England Club acquired the freehold for the golf course in 1993 and the leasehold in 2021.
The barrister told the two-day hearing in London that the land was subject to a “statutory trust requiring it to be kept available for public recreation use”. When the freehold was acquired, the club entered into “restrictive covenants” governing its use.
He said this meant any plans could not “restrict its use so as not to impair the appreciation of the general public of the extent or openness of the golf course land”.
In court, he said: “You could not have a more protected piece of land within the planning system, frankly.”
Mark Westmoreland Smith, for the planning authorities, said the decision was a “planning judgment properly exercised and having regard to the appropriate and relevant factors”.
In his 31-page ruling, Mr Justice Saini agreed, stating that the authority “properly considered the implications of the development on public open space”.
The All England Club maintains it has consulted extensively with the local community to build local support.
“We have spoken to more than 10,000 people who have taken the time to come in person and understand our plans in detail,” said Ms Jevans.
“The vast majority of people just want us to get on and deliver the many benefits on offer as soon as possible.”
Separate High Court proceedings are continuing over whether a statutory trust existed, and that if it does, the All England Club has “accepted” that this is “incompatible with the development of the proposal”.
A hearing in that case is due to take place in January 2026.
The Matrix Resurrections
Director: Lana Wachowski
Stars: Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Jessica Henwick
Rating:****
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Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
GOLF’S RAHMBO
- 5 wins in 22 months as pro
- Three wins in past 10 starts
- 45 pro starts worldwide: 5 wins, 17 top 5s
- Ranked 551th in world on debut, now No 4 (was No 2 earlier this year)
- 5th player in last 30 years to win 3 European Tour and 2 PGA Tour titles before age 24 (Woods, Garcia, McIlroy, Spieth)
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
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- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Who is Allegra Stratton?
- Previously worked at The Guardian, BBC’s Newsnight programme and ITV News
- Took up a public relations role for Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April 2020
- In October 2020 she was hired to lead No 10’s planned daily televised press briefings
- The idea was later scrapped and she was appointed spokeswoman for Cop26
- Ms Stratton, 41, is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator
- She has strong connections to the Conservative establishment
- Mr Sunak served as best man at her 2011 wedding to Mr Forsyth
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
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UAE cricketers abroad
Sid Jhurani is not the first cricketer from the UAE to go to the UK to try his luck.
Rameez Shahzad Played alongside Ben Stokes and Liam Plunkett in Durham while he was studying there. He also played club cricket as an overseas professional, but his time in the UK stunted his UAE career. The batsman went a decade without playing for the national team.
Yodhin Punja The seam bowler was named in the UAE’s extended World Cup squad in 2015 despite being just 15 at the time. He made his senior UAE debut aged 16, and subsequently took up a scholarship at Claremont High School in the south of England.
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