BDP fights back over £4.6m Wimbledon claim

In a writ filed at the High Court in March, the club accused BDP and subcontractor FB Ellmer of “defective design” and “poor workmanship” on the Millennium Building at the south London venue. Among the club’s claims are that the building leaks and that the timber that BDP specified was incompatible with the glazing system.

BDP has filed a response to the writ that says the club’s claims are an “abuse of process” and that it had failed to address the alleged defects in a “proper and timeous fashion”.

BDP also demands that any award of damages be reduced to reflect the club’s delay in investigating the defects to the building, which was completed in 2000.

The writ says: “The club should have investigated and discovered the extent of the alleged defects by the end of 2001 at the latest.”

It adds that any remedial works to the building, which houses facilities for players, members and officials, as well as the media centre, should have been completed by the club by the end of 2003.

The club should have investigated and discovered the extent of the alleged defects by the end of 2001 at the latest

BDP’s response

In March 2004, BDP agreed to pay the club £56,000 for the cost of repairs, but the club reserved the right to seek the cost of repairing other defects that arose.

BDP is contending that the club should have known at this date that a further sum would be required in the future.

BDP also claims that the club “grossly overstated” the costs of repairing windows and doors, and failed to put a proposed remedial scheme out to competitive tender.

The club plans to appoint Galliford Try to replace the glazing.

BDP has worked with the tennis club since 1992.