AELTC Community Tennis Centre
- Client: The All England Lawn Tennis Club
- Architect: Langstaff Day Architects
- Contacts: Jon Roshier, Jess Parulian
- LPA: London Borough of Merton
The AELTC Community Tennis Centre in Raynes Park is a landmark development that blends elite sport with inclusive community engagement. The project has transformed a previously underutilised site into a vibrant, year-round destination for tennis, sport, and wellbeing.
At the heart of the scheme are 16 Championship-standard grass courts and three acrylic courts housed within a state-of-the-art air dome, ensuring year-round use for both professional athletes and the local community. The courts serve as vital practice facilities during The Championships while also supporting grassroots development through an expanded Community Tennis Programme and a widely accessible Pay & Play scheme.
Inclusivity is central to the Centre’s mission. Facilities are fully accessible for wheelchair users, addressing a longstanding lack of provision for disabled athletes. The site continues to host the Wimbledon Junior Tennis Initiative (WJTI), offering local schools and young players opportunities to develop their skills in a supportive environment.
Beyond tennis, the project contributes to community wellbeing with multipurpose facilities including a 100m sprint track, four junior football pitches, and a sustainably designed clubhouse. The clubhouse provides flexible space for yoga, pilates, mindfulness sessions, and community events, encouraging wider participation in health and wellbeing activities.
The transformation of the site also prioritised environmental sustainability. Drawing inspiration from English garden design, the landscape includes wildflower meadows, tree and shrub planting, and a network of Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS). These features not only resolve previous surface water issues but also enhance biodiversity and create a more pleasant, ecologically responsible environment.
Through thoughtful design and meaningful community engagement, the project has become a catalyst for positive change. It has improved local infrastructure, supported social cohesion, and elevated the area’s profile as a hub for sport and culture. Economic benefits include increased footfall, new employment opportunities, and a boost to local businesses from events and tournaments.
