Andy Murray inspired £20m project scrapped with ‘deep regret and sorrow’ | Tennis | Sport
A legacy project inspired by the Murray family has been scrapped due to an increase in costs as well as insurmountable difficulties in the planning process. The project, led by Andy and Jamie’s mother Judy, included plans for a multi-sport site with outdoor tennis and padel courts near his hometown of Dunblane.
The centre was also set to include pickleball courts in addition to a gym, exercise studio, soft play and multi-use games areas. The project was being overseen by the Murray Play Foundation, a charitable organisation set up to design, build and operate the proposed facility.
It was announced on Tuesday that the project had been scrapped for a variety of reasons, including significant increases in construction, material, energy and labour costs. Organisers also cited a lengthy and uncertain planning process and protracted discussions with governing bodies.
A spokesperson for the Murray Play Foundation said: “It is with deep regret and sorrow that we bring this project to an end, and with it a unique opportunity for a sporting legacy from the careers of two young men from Dunblane who reached the top of their sport and inspired countless people to play the game.
“Judy has been involved in promoting sport and tennis her whole life. This not-for-profit project was an opportunity to build a base in Scotland that would have lasted beyond her lifetime and given the next generation greater opportunity to access courts, competition, and coaching.
“However, she and her team persevered until several factors conspired to leave the project unviable in its current form and we no longer plan to seek a detailed planning consent on the site at Park of Keir.
“The Murray family is proud of what they have contributed to tennis in the UK and remain committed to growing the game and persuading governments, sports governing bodies and others of the significant health, social and economic benefits that flow from sustained investment in sport and physical activity.
“We will now take time to consider what other initiatives might be aligned to the purpose of our charity, which is essentially to provide more people, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, with the opportunity to pursue sport, fitness and physical activity.”
The project, which was due to cost around £20million, faced opposition from local campaigners who were against the facility being built on green belt land. Stirling Council initially rejected plans for the development but their decision was later overruled by Scottish ministers.
Last month, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) pledged £5m to the programme which they hoped would ‘act as a home for competition and player training alongside Judy’s programme to encourage greater participation in sport and build a workforce of community coaches’.
