WIMBLEDON OFF-COURT LEGAL BATTLES

The All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), better known as Wimbledon, which was founded on 23 July 1868, is experiencing battles not only on its famous grass tennis courts but also off them in the law courts, namely the High Court and the Court of Appeal.

The legal battles relate to the AELTC £200 million (around Sw.Frs. 207 million) plan to build a 38-court expansion and 8,000-seat stadium on former public land in Wimbledon Park.

The plan is being opposed by Save Wimbledon Park (SWP), a local residents association, on two fronts: a High Court challenge regarding a 150-year-old statutory trust restriction, under the Public Health Act 1875 and a Court of Appeal case concerning the planning permission granted in 2024.

In the Statutory Trust case, SWP argues that the land is protected for public use, a restriction that remained when the AELTC bought the freehold in 1993. On the other hand, the AELTC disputes this. If the High Court, in fact, finds that there is a trust, the planned expansion cannot take place, and AELTC has conceded this.

In the Planning Permission case, after a July 2025 High Court defeat for SWP, the Court of Appeal has allowed an appeal against the Greater London Authority decision to approve the development, with Lord Justice Holgate noting that there are “real prospects of success“. But we will see what, in fact, happens.

In any event, the case represents a major dispute between a premier sporting institution and local environmental/heritage interests, the outcome of which may potentially affect protected green spaces throughout England.

A decision on the Statutory Trust case, which was heard in January of this year, is pending, whilst the Planning Permission case is proceeding in the Court of Appeal.

Further information is available from our International Sports Law Consultant, Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw, by e-mailing him at blackshaw@valloni.ch.