PARIS – The planned renovation of Roland Garros is on hold after a Paris tribunal on Friday sided with local residents who complained the development could harm the environment.
The home of the French Open is undergoing an expansion that was scheduled to be completed in 2017, with plans including a retractable roof over the center court.
However, the Administrative Court of Paris ordered the plans to be stopped, ruling in favor of three local associations who had expressed concern about the impact on the environment, especially a nearby botanical garden. The tribunal said the French Tennis Federation had failed to adequately address those concerns and that the fee it was set to pay the city was too low.
The federation, whose plans were approved by city authorities two years ago, said it noted the decision “with astonishment” and would appeal.