Tennis OUT, padel IN at Telford leisure centre as plan lodged

The rise and rise of padel continues as a plan is lodged to replace two outdoor tennis courts with places to play the increasingly popular racquet sport at a Telford leisure centre.

Yorkshire-based We Do Tennis CIC has applied to Telford & Wrekin Council to replace two outdoor tennis courts with two covered padel courts at Oakengates Leisure Centre.

The plan includes also creating one additional outdoor padel court. Agent PWA Planning, of Preston, has told the council that the loss of two outdoor tennis courts at the Tennis Centre is acceptable.

"The proposed development would replace two of the existing outdoor tennis courts with three padel courts, comprising two indoor courts and one outdoor court.

"This would result in a net gain in courts for Telford Tennis Centre, albeit a loss of two tennis courts."

The agent adds that as the proposal would retain tennis provision and introduce an additional complementary racket sport, "the principle of development is considered acceptable".

It would involve two covered padel courts with a single canopy supported by shipping containers.

There would also be a viewing area on a second floor plus a shop.

The ground floor includes four meeting rooms, a shop, changing rooms and toilets with the first floor providing open-plan space and a showroom.

"The proposed padel courts would deliver modern, high-quality facilities that respond to current demand, with the inclusion of indoor courts enabling year-round use and offering significantly improved resilience to weather conditions when compared with the existing outdoor tennis courts," the agents add.

The supporting shipping containers will have a height of 5.182 metres, with the canopy on top having a height of four metres, resulting in an overall maximum height of 9.182 metres.

Alongside the new structure, one outdoor padel court is also included.

Planners have been told that the existing tennis courts currently support one full-time employee and seven self-employed coaches.

"The proposed development will result in an increase in on-site employment, with approximately four full-time employees and up to ten self-employed coaches operating from the site," the agents add.

A public consultation exercise has been opened on the Telford & Wrekin Council website with the reference TWC/2026/0232