New Ilkley padel courts approved as demand grows

Plans have been approved for four new padel courts and re-configuation works at Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club [Image: ILTSC]

Plans for four new flood-lit padel courts at Ilkley Lawn Tennis & Squash Club [ILTSC] have been given the green light by Bradford Council planners.

The approved plans also show a redevelopment of the site on Stourton Road,

Padel is a fast-paced doubles racket sport combining elements of tennis and squash, played on enclosed courts around a third the size of a tennis court using solid bats and a de-pressurised ball.

ILTSC opened its first padel court in November 2022 and demand has been high. Members have taken part in a number of padel tournaments, the sports is part of the Summer Junior Racket Camps, and the club has even held a 24 hours charity padel marathon, ‘Padel-Athon’.

The four new padel courts will be on a raised platform, which will take the playing surface out of the flood zone. Two will be covered to allow prolonged usage during the winter months.

Alongside the new padel courts, works will see a much wider redevelopment at the club including a re-configuration of grass tennis courts, new grass tournament court and three hard-surfaced flood-lit tennis courts. In addition, there will be a reconfiguration of clubhouse and improvements to site layout including new site entrance boulevard, re-surfacing and new circular link road, reconfiguration and introduction of new site car parking.

The applications says the introduction of padel at ILTSC, which is the fastest growing sport in the world with approximately 130,000 players in the UK and about 20,000,000 worldwide, will provide the club with new participation sport, broadening the appeal for men, women and junior members.

The council imposed several conditions as part of the consent to manage drainage, safeguard local wildlife and minimise the development’s impact on neighbouring residents.

Construction work shall only be carried out between the hours of 0800 and 1800 on Mondays to Fridays, 0800 and 1300 on Saturdays and at no time on Sundays, Bank or Public Holidays, unless specifically agreed otherwise in writing by the Local Planning Authority.

The full application can be viewed on the Bradford Council planning portal, REF: 25/04725/MAF.