Plans have been served up for a purpose built pickleball and padel facility on the edge of Spalding.
Both sports have seen a surge in popularity in recent years.
Padel is similar to tennis but the ball is played off the wall, like squash. Pickleball uses a different scoring system to tennis, the ball doesn’t bounce as much and there are areas the ball must bounce before a return is accepted.
A local consortium of business owners and community supporters has come together and is looking to build Racquet Space (artists illustration above), on Bourne Road.
It would include four courts for each of the sports, a café, sports equipment shop and ‘social hub’.
“We wanted to create a place where people could play, connect and belong regardless of age or ability,” said a spokesperson for Racquet Space. “Padel and pickleball are growing rapidly and we’re excited to bring that energy and community spirit to Spalding,” said a spokesman.
“It is proposed to develop Racquet Space as the new home for padel and pickleball in South Holland; where sport and the community meet to create a vibrant and inclusive hub based around state-of-the-art facilities.
The application says: “It is hoped that the facility will become a premier sports venue for the whole of the east of the country; being one of the first to offer padel (the first in South Holland) and the first to offer dedicated pickleball courts, attracting locals for recreational play with visitors from all over the country for tournament and competitive play.
“Racquet Space offers a new type of recreation hub for residents, not only expanding sports access for young people and older adults, but also helping improve public health, reduce inactivity and supporting local social infrastructure.
The application is backed by governing bodies the Lawn Tennis Association and Pickleball England and estimates it would create 10 full time jobs.
The documents submitted with the application acknowledges Racquet Space would be sited just outside the current development limits for Spalding but goes at length to explain why other locations in the town would not be suitable.
It would be directly south of the new school proposed to be accessed from Monks House Lane.
“The location of the proposal is ideal in that it is close to the town and lies within an area which is and will experience growth in the future.
The site is within easy walking distance of a significant amount of residential development.”
