Wimbledon grand 'tennis Disneyland' plans hit huge roadblock as council rejects ground expansion

Wimbledon authorities' plan to create their tennis Disneyland suffered a major blow after a council raised their objection about such a plan.

Five years back in 2018, Wimbledon Park Golf Club agreed to sell the famous club which has been there for more than 120 years.

The plan was to extend the All England Club by establishing a new stadium with an audience capacity of 8,000 along with 38 open courts.

However, that move is now in jeopardy after a council did not approve the proposal. For the proposal to become a reality, it needed approval from all councils.

The AELTC, in a statement, expressed their disappointment after the recent verdict. “We are surprised that planning officers at the London Borough of Wandsworth have recommended refusal of the AELTC Wimbledon Park project, particularly after the London Borough of Merton resolved to approve the application following extensive analysis and debate both in their officers’ report and at the planning committee.”

On the other hand, Labour MP for Putney Fleur Anderson stated that she was ‘delighted’ after the suggestion was approved by the higher authorities.

“We regret that Wandsworth’s officers have taken a different view but it is for councillors on the planning applications committee to make their own considered decision at the meeting on 21 November,” she said.

“I am delighted that Wandsworth council planning officers have recommended that the AELTC proposals for Wimbledon Park be refused. "Wimbledon Park is protected, Grade II*-listed metropolitan open land. This means that ‘very special circumstances’ must be proved for it to be built on.

"Wandsworth council planning officers have not found that these ‘very special circumstances’ exist and so have recommended the plans be refused. The campaign continues. Our precious green space must be defended. But this is a very positive step in the right direction.”