David Lloyd Newbury applies to build padel courts and more parking spaces

A Newbury health club has requested planning permission to build three padel courts and several more car parking spaces on its grounds.

David Lloyd Health Club in Monks Lane has submitted a proposal to build the padel courts on land currently taken up by the club’s seventh tennis court just south of the outdoor swimming pool.

According to the plans, the tennis/squash hybrid sport of padel is one of the fastest-growing sports across continental Europe.

David Lloyd said: “Padel tennis is a form of tennis that is easy to play, fun and extremely sociable.

“It is played mainly in a doubles format on an enclosed court about a third of the size of a tennis court and can be played in groups of mixed ages and abilities, as it is not power dominant.

“The rules are broadly the same as tennis, although you serve underhand and the Perspex walls are used as part of the game with the ball allowed to bounce off them.”

To accommodate the new courts, one of which will be covered, the club’s existing Battlebox outdoor fitness facility will be relocated.

The courts will also be accompanied by a padel social space, featuring seating, a television and a canopy structure.

Alongside this, David Lloyd has also applied to build an additional 32 parking spaces at the south end of its car park.