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Wimbledon's plans to dramatically expand its site have received a significant legal boost. A High Court judge ruled on Thursday that the land earmarked for development is not restricted by any statutory trust that would require it to be kept as public space.
The ruling removes one of the key legal obstacles standing between the All England Club and its plans to almost triple the size of the current Wimbledon site. The campaign group Save Wimbledon Park has said it will fight on and intends to challenge the ruling at the Court of Appeal.
What the All England Club wants to build on site of Wimbledon Park Golf Club and why
The expansion plans approved by the Greater London Authority in 2024 would see 38 new tennis courts and an 8000 seat stadium built on the site of the former WP Golf Club.
The development would allow the club to host qualifying matches for the tournament on site bringing Wimbledon in line with the other Grand Slams which already have qualifying facilities on their grounds.
Deborah Jevans, the chairwoman of the All England Club, said the ruling provided important clarity. "The ruling represents a significant milestone for our plans which will as well as delivering 27 acres of beautiful new public parkland on previously private land allow us to maintain Wimbledon's position as one of the world's most successful sporting events."
What the legal argument was and what the judge decided
The campaign group Save Wimbledon Park argued in the High Court in January that a statutory trust exists under the Public Health Act 1875 which would mean the land must be used as public walks or pleasure grounds and therefore cannot be developed.
Club lawyers argued that the land was never subject to such a trust and that even if it had been the trust would not have survived the club's purchase of the freehold in 1993.
Mr Justice Thompsell sided with the club. As per the Gaurdian, he ruled that the land was never appropriated or dedicated to the use of public recreation and instead was used as a private golf club adding that the club was unencumbered by any statutory trust. "It never became the subject of a statutory trust and therefore the 1986 lease and the 1993 transfer of the freehold were each made free of such trust. Even if the above proposition is wrong it is clear that the land was never used or laid out for public recreation."
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What happens next and why the fight is not over
Thursday's ruling removes one legal obstacle but does not clear the path entirely. The GLA's decision to grant planning permission for the scheme remains the subject of separate legal action. S
WP lost a High Court challenge over that decision in July last year but has since been granted permission to challenge that ruling at the Court of Appeal which is expected to be heard at a later date.
The group now also intends to seek permission to challenge Thursday's ruling at the Court of Appeal as well citing nationally important issues of law involved in the case.
Jeremy Hudson a director of SWP said the group remained committed to the cause. "We love tennis but we continue the fight after this news because there is a strong case for protecting this precious open space from development. Wimbledon promised they would never build on this land and Wimbledon can do better because there are existing alternative plans which show that their scheme can be accommodated on their current site. These better plans would still allow the club to stage a qualifying tournament on site in keeping with the other Grand Slams. Therefore we fight on."
The expansion plans may have cleared a significant legal hurdle on Thursday but with two separate Court of Appeal challenges potentially ahead the All England Club's path to breaking ground on the former golf course is not yet clear.
