City pickleball and padel courts approved

Five new padel courts and three smaller pickleball courts were approved by the council

Plans for new padel and pickleball courts have been approved.

Alan Jordan, who runs Padel Peterborough, was given permission to convert four unused tennis courts at Powerleague, next to Stanground Academy.

Plans for five new padel courts and three smaller pickleball courts, with the associated fencing, were approved by the city council.

According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Mr Jordan stated in his application: "The existing site is vacant and dilapidated and not used to its full potential as tennis courts or any sports facility."

When built, the padel courts are expected to be the first of their kind in the city, with two other planning applications in surrounding area awaiting a decision.

Plans stated that the existing clubhouse would provide toilets and welfare facilities.

The courts would be restricted to use between 08:00 and 20:00 every day of the week.

Mr Jordan said he believed the social side to padel was what made it popular.

"It is a skilled game, as any racquet sport, but more people are willing to participate because they don't have to spend as much time trying to perfect the game in order to play at a competitive level," he said.

The new courts in Stanground must be built within three years, the authority said.

Sport England supported the application.