The Leader of the London Borough of Merton, Councillor Ross Garrod, has today written to the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) to seek clarity on how it intends to adhere to covenants on the land earmarked for development.

This follows the decision by the Council’s independent Development and Planning Application Committee to approve an application by AELTC to develop the Wimbledon Park Golf Course and pending consideration of the plans by the London Borough of Wandsworth and the Mayor of London.

The covenants, which are separate to the planning process, formed part of the transfer deal of the land on the Wimbledon Park Golf Course from the council to AELTC 30 years ago.

In his letter, Councillor Garrod wrote: “The Wimbledon Park Golf Course is subject to restrictive covenants established in the 1993 transfer to All England Lawn Tennis Ground (AELTG). These restrictive covenants include requirements for the owner to use the land only for leisure and recreation or as an open space and places restrictions on the erection of buildings. The development for which planning consent has been granted cannot commence without addressing the restrictive covenants in the 1993 transfer.

“I would be grateful if you could advise how you intend to implement the planning consent, if granted, without breaching the restrictive covenants.”

ENDS

Read a copy of the letter here.