Five new padel courts approved for Bathampton

Padel players in and around Bath are set to have a new place to play after plans for five courts in Bathampton were given the go-ahead.

Bath and North East Somerset Council has approved plans from Smash Padel to develop the courts at the former railway station site in Bathampton, on the eastern edge of the city.

The decision follows growing interest in the sport locally, with more than 180 comments supporting the application submitted during the planning process. Some players said they currently travel to Bristol to access courts.

Padel, which originated in Mexico, combines elements of tennis and squash. It is usually played in doubles on an enclosed court using solid racquets and has grown rapidly in popularity in the UK in recent years.

Smash Padel says the new Bathampton club will cater for players from the age of four upwards, with free introductory sessions, coaching and junior programmes planned.

Rupert Taylor, CEO of Smash Padel and a Bath resident, said the company had worked to create a club which respected the character of its surroundings.

“Bathampton is a brilliant fit for Smash. It’s a site with history and personality, and we’ve worked hard to design a club that respects its surroundings,” he said.

“We’re excited to begin work and to welcome players from four years old and upwards when we open.”

The application did attract concerns from some nearby residents, particularly around potential noise and additional traffic.

Councillors were told, however, that the nearest residential property is around 170 metres from the proposed courts, while council highways officers did not raise objections to the scheme.

Noise has previously proved a significant issue for proposed padel developments elsewhere in Bath, including plans at Odd Down Sports Ground.

The Bathampton development will become Smash Padel’s seventh UK location and its second in Somerset, following its existing club in Taunton.

Two padel courts have also been approved as part of the University of Bath’s wider development plans, although it is not yet clear whether those facilities will be available to the general public.

A separate proposal for four courts at Walcot Rugby Club on Charlcombe Lane is also going through the planning process.