Padel courts will be built in Darlington as part of an organisation’s drive to get more people playing the sport. 

Plans for the new facility at Blackwell Meadows were approved by Darlington Borough Council last week. 

Padel Project UK will build four courts next to the sports ground, currently home to Darlington Football Club and Darlington Rugby Club. 

The courts will be built on part of the existing car park and unused grassland near the site entrance. 

Plans for the new facility at Blackwell Meadows were approved by Darlington Borough Council last week. Plans for the new facility at Blackwell Meadows were approved by Darlington Borough Council last week. (Image: Padel Project UK)

Design drawings of the courts show they will be enclosed in a four metre tall rigid fence with glazed panels at the ends of the courts. A secondary two metre tall chain-link fence will be installed around all the courts to provide security and safe circulation around the courts. 

Padel is a racket sport played in an enclosed court where the ball can bounce off the padel court walls. It is a cross between tennis and squash.

Once built, the new facility will be marketed to children and adults through after-school sessions and evening classes. Access through schools and holiday camps is also proposed and will be offered through a no-membership policy. 

A statement from the applicant read: “The number of padel tennis courts in Darlington is limited, despite the sport’s popularity currently growing in the UK. Installing four padel courts would increase sports participation and community involvement. It would also enable the operator to run social events, social play, coaching, and tournaments.”

“The plan is to work with the local council sports dept and the rugby club to target specific groups in need of access to sports - girls aged 14-18, disability groups, and those targeted by the council.”

The site is due to open seven days a week between 8am and 10pm. 

Padel Project UK said the current car park at Blackwell Meadows is not fully utilised in the area and will not harm the site as they have a large overflow car park to the north of the site. 

The existing access road will also be moved to the south of the site, according to the proposal.