The proposal is currently being assessed by Merton Borough Council and is likely to be decided by a planning committee meeting that is expected to take place in March .
Smith says the priority is a sensitive development of the park , which will include a new 23-acre area of open access parkland , heritage and landscape benefits such as the desilting of and environmental works to the Wimbledon Park lake , and significant ecology and biodiversity improvements .
Should the project be given the green flag , Smith says some initial work will begin prior to this year ’ s Championships : “ We will improve drainage and make the golf course features disappear so that there is more of a rolling landscape . We have
to do archaeological surveys and we ’ ve got some interesting work on ground investigation for energy , and a lot of work to do with the local authorities on protecting the ecology that ’ s in place and working towards enhancing that .
“ We have specialists in the particular trees , we ’ ve got specialists in the soils , we have different specialists depending on where the soils are , specialists on invertebrates and specialists on the mammals all feeding into the advice and guidance that comes with the design .
“ We ’ ve carried out a radar survey of
“ It will mean we can offer a more consistent overall experience for those watching on TV as well as those who are experiencing it live .”
Justin Smith , All England Lawn Tennis Club
the roots of the veteran trees , which is one of the reasons why we ’ ve located the tennis courts where they are because they fit with the topography of the ground and that topography relates to the base of the trees . “ There has been a lot of investigation and
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