Sir Andy Murray 'legacy' tennis centre plan scrapped

Plans for a tennis centre adjacent Sir Andy Murray's hometown of Dunblane person been scrapped complete readying issues and rising costs.

The £20m project, led by his mother Judy Murray, aimed to build a organization multi-sport installation astatine Park of Keir to people nan tennis bequest of nan Murray family.

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) pledged £5m to nan task but it met guidance from campaigners who said it should not beryllium built connected greenish loop land.

Judy Murray's charity, nan Murray Play Foundation, said "with heavy regret and sorrow" it would now not spell ahead.

A instauration spokesperson said: “Over 12 years, Judy has invested important clip and encountered indifference and guidance for overmuch of that period.

"However, she and her squad persevered until respective factors conspired to time off nan task unviable successful its existent form.

"We nary longer scheme to activity a elaborate readying consent connected nan tract astatine Park of Keir."

Significant increases successful building and power costs, nan prolonged readying process and ongoing discussions pinch governing bodies were cited arsenic reasons for abandoning nan project.

Sir Andy, nan erstwhile men's number 1 and two-time singles champion astatine Wimbledon, retired past period aft competing astatine nan Olympics successful Paris.

Judy Murray said she was disappointment astatine nan deficiency of a bequest successful Scotland from his tennis career.

Andy's relative Jamie Murray is besides a seven-time Grand Slam doubles champion.

The instauration spokesperson added: “The Murray family is proud of what they person contributed to tennis successful nan UK and stay committed to increasing nan game."

The kindness said it would now see different initiatives to supply much group pinch nan opportunity to prosecute sport, fittingness and beingness activity.

The projected installation astatine Park of Keir would person included tennis, padel and pickleball courts.

Former world number 1 tennis subordinate Billie Jean King antecedently backed nan project, calling it nan "best legacy" for nan Murray family.

Writing connected X, she said: "Surely creating a guidelines successful Scotland for Andy, Jamie and Judy to springiness backmost to their athletics by doing what they do brilliantly, processing nan adjacent procreation of coaches and players is nan champion bequest for them."

The LTA, Britain's governing assemblage for tennis, had pledged £5m to nan task past month.

Chief executive Scott Lloyd had said they were proud to support a task which would beryllium of "national value to Scotland", arsenic good arsenic an "important organization facility".

However, Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife Mark Ruskell was 1 of those opposing nan project.

He said: "I americium proud nan section organization has stood up and protected Park of Keir.

"At nan bosom of this task was an exclusive luxury lodging improvement that would person been damaging to nan section scenery and would person eroded ancient woodlands and important greenbelt land."

The Scottish authorities approved readying support successful rule for nan installation successful December 2021, pursuing an entreaty by nan developers.

Stirling Council had rejected plans for nan development, which besides included lodging and a hotel.

However, Scottish ministers overruled this decision, saying nan benefits of nan scheme would outweigh nan nonaccomplishment of greenish loop land.