Building for success

SportsNation looks at some of the recent projects and developments on the booming UK padel market

Turley secures Bloom Heathrow site for Game4Padel

Independent advisor, Turley, successfully received planning permission on behalf of Game4Padel for the installation of two padel courts at Bloom Heathrow Business Park in West London. A previous application, submitted by Game4Padel, was originally refused by the local authority on transport and amenity grounds.

Turley was appointed to successfully deliver a planning strategy to address London Borough of Hounslow’s concerns, with a revised application submitted and planning permission subsequently granted in spring 2023. The courts are now built out, opening officially in September 2023, and are a valuable amenity at the business park.

“The project formed a wider suite of upgrades to provide exceptional Grade A, sustainability and wellness focused office accommodation at the business park to ultimately increase occupancy across the estate,” Turley said.

Soul Padel and Bolton School partner for padel facility

Soul Padel and Bolton School have teamed up to transform the school’s two disused shale courts at its Leverhulme Pavilion into a vibrant padel hub. The planned facility will be accessible to both Bolton School students and the wider community, representing a significant investment in local sports and recreational amenities.

Soul Padel, a leader in expanding padel across the UK, is working with Bolton School to create an inclusive facility that aligns with both organisations’ commitment to community engagement and accessibility.

The planning application for the proposed site is currently in progress, and local residents are encouraged to provide their feedback during the consultation process.

Philip Britton, MBE, Head of Foundation at Bolton School, said: “We will provide a fantastic new facility that will allow our pupils to experience one of the world’s fastest-growing sports. This new venue will also be open for community use in the evenings, at weekends, and during school holidays, creating an inclusive sporting environment for everyone.

“We value the feedback of our neighbours and look forward to reading their views about the project when the Bolton Council Planning portal opens for comment.”

Private padel courts experiencing a boom

With the demand to play padel far outweighing the number of courts available, an increasing number of individuals are looking to build their own, private courts.

SAPCA member, Copri Systems, is one of the companies to have experienced this trend first hand.

Sas Palframan, Copri Systems’ Business Development Manager, said: “We are witnessing a surge of enthusiasts who are exploring how they might be able to install facilities on their own property. While the issues of planning permission and access are still a challenge when you factor in neighbours and narrow driveways, the most recent hurdle has been ensuring that we were never on site when the owner was in residence.

“Sometimes that gives us a very small window in the day (or night) to get work done but nothing fazes us and, on the whole, the private projects are a joy because of the strong collaboration with clients who tend to be as passionate about playing padel as we are.”

Destination Padel expands in Cheshire

The padel boom in Cheshire is set to continue with two new indoor venues coming to the county courtesy of Destination Padel – a new operator in the sector. Doors will soon open at a new indoor venue in Northwich, which features five courts from Portico – featuring eye-catching pink turf.

One of the five courts is a tournament-ready show court that will have black turf and a pink steel cage. The centre, which is expected to open its doors in mid-December, will also have retail and social areas, changing rooms, showers and also a work hub.

Destination Padel will add a second indoor venue to its portfolio in January in Handforth, which will feature three courts. More details on this venue will be released in due course. The company is looking to add a third venue later in 2025.

Places

Parkside Padel Club opens in Southall, London

Parkside Padel Club opened in May 2024 in partnership with housing developer Berkeley at its residential site, The Green Quarter in Southall, West London. Berkeley is creating a new neighbourhood with 13 acres of parkland connecting to the Grand Union Canal and alongside the Elizabeth Line, making it one of London’s largest regeneration projects.

Amenities already delivered include a gym, co-working space, cinema room, Italian coffee house, tree nursery, pottery studio and small business incubator units.

Game4Padel operates three uncovered courts on the site, which sit alongside Parkside Yards, the on-site community hub and café, and there are plans to cover the courts in 2025.

The courts are busy with residents and the local Southall community is beginning to embrace the new sport as well.

Head of Community Engagement, Jags Sanghera said: “Berkeley really invest in community integration – it’s hugely important with a development of this size and scale that local people support it.

“We saw padel as a way of not only bringing residents together, but also bringing the existing community together to engage and use the spaces we have here. It’s been a real success story so far, and the new covered courts will provide year-round padel for everyone, whatever the weather”.

Portico delivers one of London’s largest padel centres

SAPCA member, Portico Sport UK, has delivered a padel centre featuring 12 panoramic indoor courts in Ilford, London. Operated by Rocket Padel, the centre is one of the largest in the capital. As well as the courts, the centre features spectator areas, conference room, a warm up zone, bistro/bar and a pro shop.

Portico works with a fully integrated team of engineers and project managers to deliver padel projects across the UK.

Places

Merseyside’s first covered padel courts coming to St Helen’s

Merseyside’s first covered padel courts, set to open at Queens Park Recreation Ground, Boundary Road, St Helen’s. The facility will feature four canopy-covered courts and a modern clubhouse, marking a major milestone in the area’s regeneration.

With the leisure centre just a stone’s throw away, the new facility promises to integrate closely with the town centre and offer a fun, social, and physically engaging experience.

Cllr Kate Groucutt, St Helens Borough Council Cabinet Member for Business, Culture and Leisure, commented: “As a borough, we see higher participation rates in team sports than anywhere else in the country. With a strong sporting heritage, it is great to see new opportunities to encourage more people to get active.” The facility will be operated by Soul Padel.

Fordingbridge delivers 22m span canopy for Brentwood Padel Club

Offering covered padel facilities, rather than uncovered outdoor courts, can boost occupancy from an average 40% a year to 70% a year – so it’s no surprise many clubs are now looking into their options.

Brentwood Padel Club is one club which has now covered its courts. The hugely popular Essex-based club recently turned to padel court canopy expert and SAPCA member, Fordingbridge, to help it retrofit a clear span structure over three existing courts. Fordingbridge’s solution was a 22m-deep and 36m-wide canopy that would cover each court, front to back, in a single span to achieve a contemporary streamlined look.

The galvanised steel structure was covered in Fordingbridge’s unique Opal 60 fabric, which allows maximum daylight penetration to create beautiful, light-filled playing experiences and minimise daylight lighting costs.

“The truly all-weather solution shields players from wind and rain and from harmful UV rays, enabling club members to get maximum use from the club’s facilities year round,” Fordingbridge said.

Places

Smart-Space works with Heron Padel Club to elevate sport

SAPCA member, Smart-Space, has committed to creating more sustainable padel facilities which also enhance player experience.

The company’s commitment to greener materials and processes ensures that venues are not only functional but also a better option for the environment. For its padel venues, Smart-Space uses 2.95 k/CO2 per kg of recycled aluminium (compared with a European average of more than 8 kg/CO2 for ‘traditional’ aluminium).

One of the operators that Smart-Space has worked with is Heron Padel, at the Heron Country Club in Brentwood, Essex.

Alex Bartlett, the Club Director at Heron Club, said: “Choosing a Smart-Space building was an excellent decision for both cost-effectiveness and speed. The PVC roof allows natural light in, and with floodlights, we can stay open until 9:30 PM, even in winter.”