Councillors to deny Wimbledon new show court by voting against it

Merton councillors aim to block the All England Lawn Tennis Club from building on Grade II* listed parkland by voting against it.

Controversial plans for a new Wimbledon show court are to be put to a vote of councillors in a motion that could see them block the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) 10-storey tennis stadium on a protected park.

Liberal Democrat and Conservative councillors will call on the Labour-run Merton council to enforce restrictive covenants that prevent building on the Grade II* listed parkland. Some of the councillors opposing the move said:

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"Enforcing the covenants would ensure the All England Club’s proposals would be blocked even if its planning application is successful."

Despite the covenant, the club has submitted plans for a 95-metre long, 28-metre high, 8,000-seat “Parkland show court” on the land designed by Brown for the first Earl Spencer in 1768. The plans, which the club said would enhance its “tennis in an English garden” image, also include 38 ground courts, several ancillary buildings and 9.4km of roads and paths on the protected land.

More than 1,200 people have submitted formal objections via the council’s websites.