Willmott Dixon has completed a world-class members’ indoor tennis centre for The All England Lawn Tennis Club, with former world no.4 Tim Henman giving his sign of approval.

Located next to the main site for The Championships, Wimbledon, the complex includes 12 new tennis courts (six indoor acrylic and six outdoor clay), associated clubhouse facilities, an underground tunnel that connects to the main estate and a 338-space underground car park.

The timber-clad building features a unique undulating double-curved roof to mimic the play of tennis and uses controlled natural lighting and ventilation to provide a setting for uninterrupted play.

Tim Henman, AELTC board member, said: “The indoor tennis centre is the finest facility of its kind that I have seen anywhere in the world. It is a huge asset to the club and The Championships, and I am sure both amateur and professional players will relish the opportunity to use this facility in the future.” 

Richard Poulter, managing director for Willmott Dixon in the south, added: “We are delighted to hand over this incredible building to The All England Lawn Tennis Club, providing outstanding facilities for its members to enjoy in a location that is synonymous with excellence in everything associated with tennis. This is a project that myself and the team are immensely proud of, and we look forward to seeing it being enjoyed by players and members alike.”

The project has included extensive landscaping, retaining The All England Lawn Tennis Club’s guiding principle of ‘Tennis in an English Garden’ throughout its grounds, and ensuring the building and clay courts are set seamlessly into their surroundings.

Sustainability was a key focus, so the project has used a range of energy saving and sustainable initiatives including a natural ventilation system, heat pumps and PVs. The carpet tiles throughout are 100% carbon neutral and the entrance mats are made of goat hair rather than plastic. During construction, schemes were put in place to ensure a large percentage of waste was diverted from landfill and transportation emissions were minimised. 

The work began following The Championships in 2019 and spanned the pandemic period, with the team able to continue operations by adopting stringent Covid-19 safety guidelines.

It is the latest sports project Willmott Dixon has completed, following a £30m fit-out of the East Stand at Twickenham Stadium.