The grassroots campaign to stop the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) from turning a protected piece of historic parkland into a sprawling tennis complex has hit a major milestone—raising £120,000 through public donations to fund its legal challenge.
The Save Wimbledon Park group, which is mounting a Judicial Review of the Greater London Authority’s decision to grant planning permission for the controversial development, has reached its initial fundraising target. The campaign now plans to increase its goal to £160,000 to ensure it can fully cover mounting legal costs as the July court date draws near.
The campaign said in an update:
“We are truly grateful to our very many supporters and donors for their generosity. This is a real David and Goliath story—and every pound counts.”
Legal Battle Looms
The legal action will scrutinise the Deputy Mayor’s decision to greenlight AELTC’s plans, which include 39 new grass courts, 10 additional buildings, and an 8,000-seat stadium on land currently designated as Metropolitan Open Land, a Grade II* listed park and part of a historic “Capability” Brown landscape.
The land in question—formerly Wimbledon Park Golf Course—is subject to restrictive covenants and believed by campaigners to fall under a Statutory Recreation Trust, both of which could prohibit large-scale development. While Merton Council approved the scheme, Wandsworth Council unanimously rejected it. The GLA ultimately gave the green light last year, prompting this legal challenge.
The Judicial Review is set for 8–9 July, right in the middle of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships. Separately, a second legal case regarding the public recreation trust is expected to reach trial later this year or in early 2026.
From Celebrity Backers to Schoolboy Petitions
The fundraising effort has galvanised broad public support, from £5 donations to £5,000 contributions. Two recent public events in Southfields and Edge Hill drew more than 400 people combined. Local TV writer and comedian Andy Hamilton hosted both Save Wimbledon Park gatherings, joined by 100-year-old actress Thelma Ruby and Gabriel, a local schoolboy who delivered a petition signed by his classmates opposing the development.
The campaign has also drawn national media attention. The BBC covered the recent events and aired an extended segment on Politics London in which Wimbledon MP Paul Kohler challenged AELTC Chair Debbie Jevans to meet with campaigners and consider a compromise. While Jevans agreed to meet, she offered no commitment to revise the plans.
“The AELTC appear unwilling to acknowledge or respond to the massive local opposition to their scheme,” the campaign noted.
Community Momentum Builds
An upcoming campaign update meeting is scheduled for this month, offering residents a chance to learn more about the legal case and next steps.
The AELTC continues to promote its development as offering “community benefits,” but campaigners argue the project would destroy precious green space, compromise biodiversity, and severely limit access to a landscape meant for public enjoyment—not private tournament use. “The heritage land is a valuable, irreplaceable habitat meant for the people,” the campaign argued.
With its courtroom battle fast approaching, the Save Wimbledon Park team is urging supporters to help raise the remaining £40,000 needed to meet its new funding target.
