Padel centre plan for empty factory approved

Plans to turn a former industrial unit into a padel centre have been given the go-ahead.

Nottingham City Council's planning committee approved an application on Wednesday from Meadow Lane Services to redevelop a former metal fabrication site on Lenton Lane, next to Clifton Boulevard.

According to planning documents, the centre will consist of eight padel tennis courts, a fitness studio and a cafe, along with 58 parking spaces.

It will also create 24 full-time equivalent jobs, the documents add.

They state: "The development proposed creates the opportunity to provide meaningful employment numbers, re-use of a vacant site, significant health and wellbeing benefits, sustainability improvements and biodiversity net gain."

Padel, which has swelled in popularity in recent times, is similar to tennis but is distinguished by shorter rackets, smaller courts and underarm serves.

In 2025, the Lawn Tennis Association estimated there were more than 1,000 padel courts in Britain.

A report submitted with the planning application said Nottingham was "significantly undersupplied" in terms of the number of padel courts in the area.

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