Wimbledon expansion given planning boost

The All England Club has received a boost to its plans to build 39 caller tennis courts connected Wimbledon Park.

Officers astatine nan Greater London Authority (GLA) person recommended nan Deputy Mayor should assistance conditional readying support astatine a nationalist proceeding adjacent Friday.

Merton Council approved nan plans, but nan connection was referred to nan GLA aft Wandsworth Council rejected nan strategy past November.

Officers opportunity nan connection complies pinch astir applicable readying policies and location are "no worldly considerations that are considered to warrant nan refusal of consent".

They admit location will beryllium a nonaccomplishment of unfastened space, and harm to protected Metropolitan Open Land, but reason nan "balance is intelligibly successful favour of" approving nan scheme.

The All England Club's plans see 39 caller tennis courts and an 8,000-seater stadium connected Wimbledon Park.

The other courts would let Wimbledon qualifying to return spot connected tract - successful statement pinch nan different 3 Grand Slams - and nan All England Club has besides promised to create a caller 23-acre nationalist parkland successful nan tone of nan original creation of scenery designer Capability Brown.

There has been section guidance from groups specified arsenic Save Wimbledon Park, which fears nan area will go a "huge business tennis complex".

The afloat readying proceeding will return spot astatine City Hall successful London connected Friday, 27 September, pinch a determination imaginable later nan aforesaid day.

The determination rests pinch Jules Pipe, nan lawman politician of London, arsenic nan Mayor Sadiq Khan excused himself from nan process having publically expressed his support for nan plans successful 2021.

The lawman mayor's determination whitethorn not awesome nan extremity of nan process. Angela Rayner - nan Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government - could besides determine to telephone nan exertion in, and clasp a caller readying hearing.

The Minister will person 7 days, from nan infinitesimal nan determination is communicated to her, to see her options.