Wimbledon is planning a significant renovation to increase its capacity by 20 percent in time for its 150th anniversary.
The project aims to improve accessibility and allow more tennis fans to visit the All England club.
The plan is to expand the well-known Henman Hill in time for Wimbledon`s 150th year in 2027.
Every year, thousands of spectators watch matches on the big screen from the hill, which is accessible to fans with ground pass tickets.
Tim Henman, after whom the hill is named, commented on the plan: “It`s about improving this entire area. It has become very popular, but accessibility is challenging for everyone.
“We are always seeking to improve our facilities across the grounds. This is going to be an exciting project.”
This renovation is the latest step in a project to expand Wimbledon.
Organizers received approval last year to build 39 additional courts on a site across from the All England club, including an 8,000-capacity stadium.
This development will allow the qualifying tournament for the Championships to be held on-site and provide more practice facilities for players.
However, the proposal faced opposition from local residents aiming to protect Wimbledon Park, where the new site is planned.
Merton Council supported the plan, but it was rejected by councillors in neighboring Wandsworth.
This led to a decision being required from London’s City Hall. Mayor Sadiq Khan recused himself due to a conflict of interest, leaving the final decision to Deputy Mayor Jules Pipe.
Despite objections from attendees at the meeting, Pipe accepted the recommendation of planning officials to approve the project.
This decision came shortly after Deputy Prime Minister Angela Raynor confirmed that she would not intervene in the process.
The residents’ group has criticized the club for allegedly violating a legal agreement regarding the site`s use when the land was originally purchased from Merton in 1993.
They have also raised concerns about the impact of up to six years of construction work for the project.
They are now planning to seek a judicial review of the decision and have not ruled out appealing to the Supreme Court.
