Reports are coming in from Malaysia that the Bank of England (BOE) is looking to restart the sale of the freehold of the Qualifying and Community Sports Centre in Roehampton. It is currently leased to the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC), where it hosts the annual Wimbledon tennis tournament, and operates a sports centre from August to April.

BoE has hired property agent Knight Frank to help. The premises were bought by the BOE in the early 1900s to provide staff with leisure facilities. BoE had put the facilities up for sale in 2019 but in 2021 agreed a 10 year lease with the AELTC, with an option for a further five years.  

The move comes at a time when BoE when it is looking to reduce operating costs.

The local concern expressed previously by EastSheenMatters (since 2023 passim) has to be that the grounds will ultimately become a hotel complex or a housing estate, with a large green area closed to the local community. Perhaps the limitations AELTC currently place on the use of the premises is softening us up for that eventuality. But given the problems AELTC is having with its planned expansion in SW19, that may be some way off.