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New courts planned for fast-growing sport

Ivan Morris PoxtonLocal Democracy Reporting Service
News imageGetty Images A woman stoops to hit a tennis ball with a black plastic racket. She is wearing a dark-blue sports vest and shorts and pink trainers. She is playing outdoors on a blue court surrounded by netting. Vans can be seen parked in the background. To the right, out of focus, a bright yellow and blue poster advertises the sport of padel.Getty Images
Hundreds of padel courts have been built nationwide over the past few years

Plans have been lodged to bring a fast-growing sport to a North Lincolnshire town.

Four padel courts would be built by Life Clubs Ltd in vacant units on an industrial estate in Barton-upon-Humber

The racquet sport, which blends elements of tennis, squash and badminton, is played by about 230,000 people annually in the UK, according to the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).

Members of the public can comment on the plans, for the Trade Yard, off Falkland Way, until 8 January.

The plans include one single and three double courts, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

According to the application, the facility would "provide a significant and wide-ranging benefit to the local community, supporting health, wellbeing, social inclusion and local development".

Padel originated in Mexico in 1969. Its popularity has grown steadily in the UK, with the number of courts increasing from 51 to 760 between 2020 and 2024, according to the LTA.

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