Save Wimbledon Park
Save Wimbledon Park
The Issue
For nearly five years now, SWP has been bringing the community together to preserve this precious, protected parkland. Although the project of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has now reached the law courts, SWP continues to urge the AELTC to stop and think again about their proposed development. This note explains the issues.
(PLEASE NOTE: If you are asked to “chip in” by Change.org, please be aware that this money will go to Change.org, not to our campaign. Instead share the petition instead (you can simply select the “copy link” option when signing the petition) and pass this link on by email, your WhatsApp street groups, social media and websites etc.)
For nearly five years now, SWP has been bringing the community together to preserve this precious, protected parkland. Although the project of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has now reached the law courts, SWP continues to urge the AELTC to stop and think again about their proposed development. This note explains the issues.
THE PLAN:
AELTC are still pursuing their Wimbledon Park Project to develop the Heritage Landscape of the Grade II* registered golf course land. They want an 8,000-seat stadium, 38 courts, 10 other buildings and 9kms of roads and paths to be built on Capability Brown’s Grade II* historic and highly protected Metropolitan Open Land (MOL). AELTC offer some private, “permissive” parkland which would contain a 30,000 sq ft maintenance building and extensive hardstanding areas.
THE COVENANTS:
All this would break the covenants demanded by Merton and agreed by AELTC on their purchase. When Merton sold the golf course land to AELTC in 1993 they both promised that it would be kept as open space, as confirmed by Tony Colman, leader of Merton Council: “...when we decided to sell this land, we did so ensuring it would be kept as open space and we did so determined that the next owner and any future owner would be denied forever the opportunity to use this space for any development." John Currie, Chairman AELTC: “We completely understand and support everyone’s determination to keep the land open and we have purchased the land on that basis.” The covenants are legally binding and remain in force today: they would prevent building on the land. To date Merton Council has refused to confirm that it will enforce them. AELTC now concede that their proposed development would breach their promises in these covenants.
MERTON, WANDSWORTH AND THE GLA:
Wimbledon Park straddles both Wandsworth and Merton, so both local authorities were involved in the planning application. The plans received majority approval from Merton's planning committee on 26th October 2023, while Wandsworth voted unanimously to refuse them on 21st November 2023. The application was then passed to the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the office of the London Mayor and were approved on 27th September 2024. Deputy Mayor Jules Pipe when issuing his decision commented that "the proposal ... would be harmful ... to the openness of the MOL" and that the "Show Court will challenge the ability to appreciate the parish church of St Mary".
APPEALING THE GLA'S DECISION:
SWP started legal action to challenge the validity of the Mayor of London’s decision, naming the AELTC and the London Boroughs of Merton and Wandsworth as Interested Parties. The legal action, necessary but expensive, was entirely funded by generous donations from local residents and wider crowdfunding for which we are very grateful. This initial attempt to challenge the planning permission was unsuccessful but SWP have been granted leave to appeal which will be heard by the Court of Appeal later in 2026.
STATUTORY PUBLIC RECREATION TRUST:
Following a unanimous Supreme Court judgement in Day v Shropshire in March 2023, SWP had drawn the attention of the authorities to this trust issue. AELTC concede that their current development plans are not compatible with the trust. The GLA's own very senior barrister Mr Timothy Morshead KC, agreed, writing as follows: "It follows - I admit contrary to what I had expected when initially reviewing the papers - that in my opinion ... members of the public have rights over the golf course, despite the 1986 lease and despite the 1993 transfer. It follows that the owner [AELTC] must make the land available to the public on a free and unrestricted basis ..." .
AELTC launched their own legal action against the community in the form of Save Wimbledon Park Ltd to try to establish that the statutory public recreation trust does not apply. In the first round of this case the Judge decided that there is no statutory trust over the former golf course land. On closing the hearing, the Judge noted that whatever his decision, the case would probably proceed eventually to the Supreme Court. SWP have applied for permission to appeal this decision to the Court of Appeal.
POLITICAL INTERVENTION:
Supporters of AELTC have still been actively seeking to change the law, using the House of Lords in an attempt to negate both of SWP's appeals. In November 2025 an amendment was added to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill by a group of peers including Lord Gus O’Donnell, a Director of AELTC. This would have fundamentally, and retrospectively, changed the rights of the public on the sale of land by Local Authorities. Opposition to this amendment, including from the Government, meant that it did not pass.
However earlier this year a similar amendment was added to the English Devolution Bill, now apparently supported by the Government, which will be debated on April 13th. If the Amendment is accepted it will allow the Secretary of State to decide whether the land should be preserved for Public Recreation - an ironic twist for a "devolution" bill. SWP along with a number of national bodies including CPRE and Open Spaces Society continue to lobby the Government and a number of members of the House of Lords.
THE FUTURE:
Even if these obstacles are overcome, one further legal hurdle remains in the path of AELTC as the restrictive covenants on the land are still to be addressed. Merton council has so far refused to agree to enforce these covenants. However, with the local elections in May, any change in the balance of power could result in a different approach. Wandsworth Council leader Simon Hogg has recently released a statement that is highly critical of AELTC’s plans and urging them to engage with the community.
Both MPs with constituencies in Wimbledon Park (Paul Kohler, Wimbledon and Fleur Anderson, Putney) and the London Assembly Member for Merton and Wandsworth Leonie Cooper have urged the AELTC to talk to all those in the Community who are concerned about this proposed industrial tennis complex - the Residents' Associations, Save Wimbledon Park and tens of thousands of local people. The AELTC must think again
Help protect the Environment
Hold Merton and the AELTC to their promises
Save Wimbledon Park for future generations
Please spread the word and follow us on social media:
X (Twitter) Facebook Instagram LinkedIn
"Save Wimbledon Park Limited" is a private company limited by guarantee, registered in England with Company Number 16071431.Registered Office 2 Putney Hill, London SW15 6AB
22,429
The Issue
For nearly five years now, SWP has been bringing the community together to preserve this precious, protected parkland. Although the project of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has now reached the law courts, SWP continues to urge the AELTC to stop and think again about their proposed development. This note explains the issues.
(PLEASE NOTE: If you are asked to “chip in” by Change.org, please be aware that this money will go to Change.org, not to our campaign. Instead share the petition instead (you can simply select the “copy link” option when signing the petition) and pass this link on by email, your WhatsApp street groups, social media and websites etc.)
For nearly five years now, SWP has been bringing the community together to preserve this precious, protected parkland. Although the project of the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has now reached the law courts, SWP continues to urge the AELTC to stop and think again about their proposed development. This note explains the issues.
THE PLAN:
AELTC are still pursuing their Wimbledon Park Project to develop the Heritage Landscape of the Grade II* registered golf course land. They want an 8,000-seat stadium, 38 courts, 10 other buildings and 9kms of roads and paths to be built on Capability Brown’s Grade II* historic and highly protected Metropolitan Open Land (MOL). AELTC offer some private, “permissive” parkland which would contain a 30,000 sq ft maintenance building and extensive hardstanding areas.
THE COVENANTS:
All this would break the covenants demanded by Merton and agreed by AELTC on their purchase. When Merton sold the golf course land to AELTC in 1993 they both promised that it would be kept as open space, as confirmed by Tony Colman, leader of Merton Council: “...when we decided to sell this land, we did so ensuring it would be kept as open space and we did so determined that the next owner and any future owner would be denied forever the opportunity to use this space for any development." John Currie, Chairman AELTC: “We completely understand and support everyone’s determination to keep the land open and we have purchased the land on that basis.” The covenants are legally binding and remain in force today: they would prevent building on the land. To date Merton Council has refused to confirm that it will enforce them. AELTC now concede that their proposed development would breach their promises in these covenants.
MERTON, WANDSWORTH AND THE GLA:
Wimbledon Park straddles both Wandsworth and Merton, so both local authorities were involved in the planning application. The plans received majority approval from Merton's planning committee on 26th October 2023, while Wandsworth voted unanimously to refuse them on 21st November 2023. The application was then passed to the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the office of the London Mayor and were approved on 27th September 2024. Deputy Mayor Jules Pipe when issuing his decision commented that "the proposal ... would be harmful ... to the openness of the MOL" and that the "Show Court will challenge the ability to appreciate the parish church of St Mary".
APPEALING THE GLA'S DECISION:
SWP started legal action to challenge the validity of the Mayor of London’s decision, naming the AELTC and the London Boroughs of Merton and Wandsworth as Interested Parties. The legal action, necessary but expensive, was entirely funded by generous donations from local residents and wider crowdfunding for which we are very grateful. This initial attempt to challenge the planning permission was unsuccessful but SWP have been granted leave to appeal which will be heard by the Court of Appeal later in 2026.
STATUTORY PUBLIC RECREATION TRUST:
Following a unanimous Supreme Court judgement in Day v Shropshire in March 2023, SWP had drawn the attention of the authorities to this trust issue. AELTC concede that their current development plans are not compatible with the trust. The GLA's own very senior barrister Mr Timothy Morshead KC, agreed, writing as follows: "It follows - I admit contrary to what I had expected when initially reviewing the papers - that in my opinion ... members of the public have rights over the golf course, despite the 1986 lease and despite the 1993 transfer. It follows that the owner [AELTC] must make the land available to the public on a free and unrestricted basis ..." .
AELTC launched their own legal action against the community in the form of Save Wimbledon Park Ltd to try to establish that the statutory public recreation trust does not apply. In the first round of this case the Judge decided that there is no statutory trust over the former golf course land. On closing the hearing, the Judge noted that whatever his decision, the case would probably proceed eventually to the Supreme Court. SWP have applied for permission to appeal this decision to the Court of Appeal.
POLITICAL INTERVENTION:
Supporters of AELTC have still been actively seeking to change the law, using the House of Lords in an attempt to negate both of SWP's appeals. In November 2025 an amendment was added to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill by a group of peers including Lord Gus O’Donnell, a Director of AELTC. This would have fundamentally, and retrospectively, changed the rights of the public on the sale of land by Local Authorities. Opposition to this amendment, including from the Government, meant that it did not pass.
However earlier this year a similar amendment was added to the English Devolution Bill, now apparently supported by the Government, which will be debated on April 13th. If the Amendment is accepted it will allow the Secretary of State to decide whether the land should be preserved for Public Recreation - an ironic twist for a "devolution" bill. SWP along with a number of national bodies including CPRE and Open Spaces Society continue to lobby the Government and a number of members of the House of Lords.
THE FUTURE:
Even if these obstacles are overcome, one further legal hurdle remains in the path of AELTC as the restrictive covenants on the land are still to be addressed. Merton council has so far refused to agree to enforce these covenants. However, with the local elections in May, any change in the balance of power could result in a different approach. Wandsworth Council leader Simon Hogg has recently released a statement that is highly critical of AELTC’s plans and urging them to engage with the community.
Both MPs with constituencies in Wimbledon Park (Paul Kohler, Wimbledon and Fleur Anderson, Putney) and the London Assembly Member for Merton and Wandsworth Leonie Cooper have urged the AELTC to talk to all those in the Community who are concerned about this proposed industrial tennis complex - the Residents' Associations, Save Wimbledon Park and tens of thousands of local people. The AELTC must think again
Help protect the Environment
Hold Merton and the AELTC to their promises
Save Wimbledon Park for future generations
Please spread the word and follow us on social media:
X (Twitter) Facebook Instagram LinkedIn
"Save Wimbledon Park Limited" is a private company limited by guarantee, registered in England with Company Number 16071431.Registered Office 2 Putney Hill, London SW15 6AB
22,429
Supporter Voices
Petition created on 11 June 2022