Last year plans to expand Wimbledon got planning permission from the GLA. Deputy Mayor of London for Planning, Jules Pipe, said they had given approval because the development would benefit the community, the economy, and sport in general. It was all looking rosy for the project, but there has been a twist recently with legal action to challenge the decision. We want to have a closer look to see what this could mean for the plans. Then, if you need help with estate management in Merton, you can speak to us.

The plans

All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC) is proposing to develop metropolitan open land (MOL) neighbouring Wimbledon. The site was a golf club until 2019. However, they want to transform it to expand Wimbledon’s estate.

The project would be a big change for the site. It would include creating a new 8,000 seat stadium, 38 new grass tennis courts, and a multi-purpose sports and leisure facility. Additionally, there would be an 11.1 hectare public park and a new boardwalk.

Estimates say the development would generate £336m for the UK economy annually. The vast majority of that would be within London. Crucially, there would be 40 new jobs for the year, and up to 250 when the Wimbledon championships is on. During construction, which is estimated for 2025 to 2033, there would be between 50 and 400 people working on the site.

The situation

The announcement of the project getting planning permission generated a lot of buzz. Numerous investors, including clients that rely on us for estate management in Merton, were happy with the news. Many other stakeholders were positive too.

However, there was also opposition to the plans. Save Wimbledon Park (SWP) were critical, saying the development did not do enough to merit approval. There were concerns from Wimbledon MP Paul Kohler that the project would “undermine” the status of MOL land elsewhere in London.

Earlier this month SWP said they have now begun a legal challenge to the decision. They feel the decision to approval the plans made errors. Most crucially, it did not “take into account implications of statutory public recreation trust and the restrictive covenants”. These prevent this type of development because they state the land should be for use by the public for recreation.

What next?

The legal challenge means the court will now have to decide what to do. They could choose to side with the GLA and allow the development to proceed. Or, they could find in favour of SWP and nix the project.

Ask us about estate management in Merton

Finefair Ltd gives clients the best support with various investments. We can make arrangements for individual homes, blocks, estates, HMOs, and more. This gives us the skills to deal with any kind of portfolio. Additionally, it means we can offer suggestions about different ways to maximise your income.

So, if you want estate management in Merton or other services across London, speak to us. We’d be happy to show what we can do and all the benefits we offer.