"The combination of surging participation, relatively low setup costs, and strong ROI potential makes padel an ideal addition to both temporary and permanent development plans"
- Hugh Gibbs - Searchland
Planning applications for padel courts in the UK have surged by more than 113% in 2024, with growth expected to continue through 2025, according to new data from Searchland. The sport’s rapid rise is creating a wealth of opportunities for developers and investors, with nearly 17,000 sites currently suited for padel development.
Padel is a fast-paced racquet sport combining elements of tennis and squash. Its enclosed courts require minimal space, with two courts fitting into the area of a single tennis court. This efficient footprint supports high-intensity gameplay, contributing to the sport’s growing appeal.
Padel’s popularity in Britain has soared over recent years, becoming one of the fastest-growing sports in the country. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) reports that over 400,000 people played padel by the end of 2024, compared with just 89,000 in 2021. The relatively low cost and ease of building courts make padel an attractive investment for both private enterprises and local councils.
Searchland’s data reveals a sharp increase in padel planning applications. In 2021, just 53 applications were submitted. This grew by 55% to 82 in 2022, then nearly doubled again with a 99% rise to 163 in 2023. The following year saw a 113% increase, reaching 348 applications. So far in 2025, 295 applications have been submitted, with projections indicating a total of 544 by year-end, a 56% rise.
The research also highlights the broad scope for future padel expansion. Searchland identifies nearly 17,000 “existing destination padel opportunities”—sporting venues such as golf courses, racquet clubs, and football facilities that have suitable unused land, including car parks or flat greenspaces. These sites tend to be in towns and cities where demand for padel is strong.
London hosts 1,086 of these destinations, with 47 already having submitted padel planning applications. Other cities with significant opportunities include Bristol (206), Edinburgh (189), Leeds (129), and Manchester (128).
Searchland further defines “conversion opportunities” as existing commercial properties appropriately sized for padel courts and located in areas with potential customer bases. There are an estimated 15,742 such sites across the UK, with the highest numbers in London (929), Manchester (468), Leeds (360), Birmingham (346), Bradford (320), and Sheffield (229).
Additionally, Searchland examined “short-term padel investment opportunities.” These involve large development sites, often housing estates, with recent planning permissions and extended build timelines. Padel courts can be temporarily installed on parts of these sites, providing interim use until the broader project advances. If desired, courts could be removed later or integrated into final plans.
Currently, 674 of these short-term opportunities exist across the UK, including 151 in London, 16 in Bristol, and eight in Birmingham.
“Padel’s extraordinary rise in popularity isn’t just a cultural trend, it’s a powerful signal to landowners, developers, and local authorities,” said Hugh Gibbs, co-founder of Searchland.
He added, “The combination of surging participation, relatively low setup costs, and strong ROI potential makes padel an ideal addition to both temporary and permanent development plans.”
Gibbs concluded, “The fact that there are nearly 17,000 sites already primed for padel across the UK shows just how much untapped opportunity is out there. For investors and landowners looking to maximise land use or diversify leisure offerings, this is the time to act.”
