Wolverhampton tennis club’s plan to replace courts for new fast-growing sport backed by council
New padel courts are set to be built at a Wolverhampton tennis club.
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Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis and Squash Club will install three new padel tennis courts at its site in Newbridge Crescent, Wolverhampton.
Two existing grass tennis courts will be replaced with three new roofed courts as part of plans approved by planners at City of Wolverhampton Council.
The burgeoning sport, which is a mix of squash and tennis, was invented in Mexico in the late 1960s. It is played in doubles on an enclosed court about a third the size of a tennis court and uses the same scoring system.
Players use solid, stringless rackets to hit a smaller ball over a net. The ball can bounce off the walls, similar to squash, and uses similar balls to tennis but with less pressure.
A report by the City of Wolverhampton Council’s planning officers who approved the work said: “The principle of erecting three padel tennis courts at this location is acceptable and no objections have been received from Sport England or The Lawn Tennis Association.
“While the padel tennis courts and associated infrastructure would be visible from […] nearby residential properties, its visual impact on occupiers would not be unacceptably harmful given the separation distance and design, which would be in keeping with the appearance of other infrastructure at the tennis club.”
As of the end of 2023, there were over 500 padel courts in the UK. The number of courts has grown rapidly in recent years, from 50 in 2019 to 350 in summer 2023. There are around 90,000 active players in the UK, according to estimates.
A statement included with the application said: “The proposed padel tennis courts will result in a slight intensification of use of this existing complex with additional vehicles generated but these will barely be discernible in the overall context and use of the site.
“Similarly, the additional parking spaces will not be readily noticeable. The courts will be covered by a canopy to maximize their use and ensure games can be played in all-weather conditions but the visual impact of this will also be minimal.”
