Wimbledon is braced for a legal challenge from its neighbours that threatens to delay or disrupt plans for the biggest expansion in its history.
A coalition of local residents' associations around the All England Club is seeking high level advice on the legal status of a covenant that could stop or dilute building on the golf course it has acquired next door.
In addition local Wimbledon MP Stephen Hammond, along with a significant number of local politicians, have declared their opposition to the scheme at SW19 as it stands.
The legal guidance being sought by at least three residents' groups comes on the back more than 1,200 objections being lodged with Merton and Wandsworth councils by individuals or representative bodies.
The All England wants to build 39 new grass courts, including a new 8,000-seat stadium on the 73 acres currently occupied by Wimbledon Park golf course. This would fulfil its long-term goal of bringing the qualifying event 'in house' from its current venue two miles away in Roehampton.
750 members like Ant McPartlin and Dec Donnelly – were paid more than £80,000 each to quit the course three years ago
At the centre of the debate is a covenant placed on the land when it was sold to the AELTC for £5.2 million in 1993. This stated that it would not be built on. In 2018 the 750 members of the golf club – who included the likes of Piers Morgan and TV personalities Ant and Dec - were paid more than £80,000 each to quit the course.
Now, 28 years later, Wimbledon want to erect an eco-friendly new stadium plus a smattering of smaller structures on what is classed as Metropolitan Open Land.
As the subject of what are likely to be complex legal arguments, the Club believes this does not disallow their plans. Residents' groups, however – who have in their ranks some highly-qualified lawyers – reckon they may have grounds for mounting a challenge.
The move could see qualifiers for Wimbledon play in-house rather than in Roehampton as they do currently
This threatens the ambition of Wimbledon to have qualifying moved by 2028, and to have the whole project completed by 2030.
The matter was discussed by a full meeting of Merton Council last week, with some councillors against it. The full application is expected to be heard around next February or March.
