Coventry fitness club lodges padel court plan

Plans to add five new padel courts to facilities at a city health club have been lodged with planners this week.

David Lloyd health club in Abbey Road in Coventry plans to swap out three of its existing tennis courts for five floodlit padel courts, two of which will be under cover, as well as a social area for members.

The company says the move is part of a national policy of incorporating padel courts into its chain of over 100 clubs across the country, in response to a boom in popularity which has seen thousands of new players take up the sport in the past decade.

“Padel is one of the fastest growing sports across continental Europe, with over six million people currently playing in Spain alone,” said a supporting statement submitted with the plans.

“There are also currently 107 padel courts at 52 clubs – a number that is set to grow substantially over the coming years.

“David Lloyd are at the forefront of this tennis revolution in the UK and have incorporated, or are in the process of incorporating, Padel Tennis into 50 + locations across their portfolio, and, given its popularity, is now including Padel Tennis across all of its new clubs.”

If approved, the courts will feature the “latest technology in artificial grass”, a move David Lloyd says will ensure the facilities will be suitable for all levels of players.

A decision will be made on the proposals by Coventry City Council’s planning department in due course.

The application and related documents can be viewed on the council’s planning portal under reference: PL/2025/0002201/FUL