Wimbledon’s plans to expand its iconic tennis grounds could be blocked by a law that dates back a century and a half, with a High Court ruling now set to decide the project’s fate.
The All England Club wants to almost triple the size of its site, adding dozens of new courts and a major show stadium.
But campaigners argue that parts of the land are protected as public open space under a law from the 1800s — and they’ve taken the fight to court.
Judges will now decide whether a historic public trust still applies to the land and if it can be legally developed for private use.
Legal challenge questions use of historic Wimbledon land
The All England Club’s proposal includes 38 new courts and an 8,000-seat stadium on the site of the former Wimbledon Park Golf Club.
If approved, it would allow the tournament’s qualifying rounds to be held on-site for the first time. Campaign group Save Wimbledon Park says the land is still covered by a statutory trust set up under the Public Health Act of 1875.
They claim this law was meant to keep the area open to the public and prevents private development.
“The evidence does not support the sort of differential treatment between the two elements of the park that would be required to raise an inference that the golf course land was not appropriated [as public land],” said Caroline Shea KC, representing the campaign group.
But the All England Club disputes this view. Speaking for the club, Jonathan Karas KC told the court that the site has always been treated as private land.
“It has never been laid out as a public park, nor have the public been permitted to access it for the purposes of public recreation,” he said.
Decision could determine future of Wimbledon expansion
The Greater London Authority approved the £200 million project in 2024, but local opposition has remained strong.
This is the second legal challenge brought by Save Wimbledon Park, after an earlier case was dismissed last year.
The current hearing is expected to wrap up on 23 January. If the court rules in favour of the campaigners, it could block the expansion entirely and force Wimbledon to rethink its future plans.
For now, the future of one of Britain’s most famous sporting venues remains uncertain — with the High Court’s decision set to shape what comes next.
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