Lambeth Council and the Lawn Tennis Association have announced investment of about £250,000 into the tennis courts at Clapham Common, writes Laura Whitehouse.

The funding will help refurbish eight courts and provide modernised floodlights for five of the courts at the park site in south London.

The three-month long project, due to begin this month, is set for completion in April and will dramatically improve the tennis offering at one London’s most popular open air spaces.

Lambeth Council, which manages the facility, received nearly £100,000 from the LTA to help improve playing opportunities for the local community, with the council contributing about £150,000.

The funding from the LTA is part of the body’s drive to get more people – of all ages and abilities – playing the game.

Richard Lewis, Sport England chairman, said: “The refurbishment and floodlighting project at Clapham Common will offer brand new all weather courts that meet the demand of the modern game whilst offering the local community some of the very best sporting opportunities available.”

The total costs of the redevelopment will be about £250,000: the LTA has contributed £99,385 with Lambert Council contributing the remainder.

Sport England is a major investor in British Tennis through the LTA, supporting its work to increase and sustain participation, identify and develop talent.

Sport England’s funding for tennis is through the LTA’s Whole Sport Plan for British Tennis, an investment of £26.8million over the next four years, including £15.4million in facilities improvements Work began last month on a new leisure centre in Clapham that is scheduled to open in late 2011.