Plans to create a centre for padel and pickleball in Spalding have been resubmitted, and badminton has been added to the proposed facilities.
A previous application by Raquet Space for a centre on Bourne Road was refused earlier this year, with planners claiming it was ‘poorly connected’ and outside development limits.
The South Holland District Council officers also said there was a potential conflict with the future bypass.
But the consortium of business owners and community supporters behind the project have come back with an amended proposal.
The main building would have three padel courts, a badminton/pickleball court, reception area, shop, cafe and welfare facilities.
There would also be a small cabin for Pilates while outside there will be a further eight courts for raquet sports, four under cover and four outside.
“Following the refusal of planning permission, informal discussions have been undertaken with South Holland District Council which have helped to shape this resubmission, and this revised proposal addresses the reasons for refusal,” says a planning document submitted with the application.
The route for the relief road has been decided and the site would not affect it.
There is also a large site with a housing allocation to the west of the proposed application. There are also plans for a new school adjacent to the planned centre.
“Padel is gaining national traction as the UK’s fastest growing sport, according to the Lawn Tennis Association’s Padel’s website figures,” the document adds.
At the end of 2025 some 860,000 adults and juniors played padel at least once in the preceding year, a figure which has doubled since 2024. In 2019 it was 15,000.
The number of courts has risen to around 1,490 with at least a million people estimated to play regularly.
Pickleball has seen a 94.4 per cent club growth in the East Midlands in 2025 and there was an increase of 10,000 new members in the preceding year.
“Together, both sports share core strengths; they are inclusive, social, provide a hub within a community, easy to learn and are excellent for physical and mental wellbeing.
“Badminton has been played in England since the 1800s and in more recent times there has been an increase in numbers with over a million regularly playing each month.
“Despite the recent investments in Spalding’s Castle Sports complex, there are no dedicated indoor or outdoor (covered) padel or pickleball facilities in South Holland.
“Raquet Space offers a new type of recreation hub for residents, not only expanding sports access for young people and adults, but also helping improve public health, reduce inactivity and support local social infrastructure.”
The centre would be fully accessible for older and disabled participants and would offer school partnerships and social events.
The building needs to be 8m height with an undivided floor area of 1,360sqm which is why there is no available land or land and buildings within the settlement boundaries. The number of indoor courts has been reduced to four to reduce the overall scale of the building.
“The application site lies within walking distance of a sizeable residential population and one which is continuing to grow,” says the report.
A second application to convert barns at Bridge Farm by Gramaro Properties were also refused by South Holland District Council in the spring.
