UK padel boom triggers surge in planning applications as nearly 17,000 development sites identified

The rapid rise in PADEL in the UK is feeding a wave of planning activity, as new numbers showed an increase of 113 percent in court requests in 2024 alone.

The continuous increase in sports in the popularity of approximately 17,000 possible development sites across the country, according to the new data issued by the Searchland Platform Land and Planning Insight.

PADEL-a rapid-footed racket sport that combines tennis and squash elements-one of the fastest sports in the United Kingdom. Figures from the Tennis Association in the park show that the number of people playing this sport jumped from only 89,000 in 2021 to more than 400,000 by the end of 2024. This unprecedented growth, along with the costs of relatively low preparation and the dimensions of the compact court, made Badil a prominent opportunity for investors, developers and local bodies.

Searchland data reveals that the number of PADEL planning applications has increased sharply in recent years. In 2021, only 53 applications were submitted. This rose to 82 in 2022, then doubled to 163 in 2023, before jumping to 348 last year – an annual increase by 113 percent. Indeed in 2025, 295 requests were submitted, and the company will rise to 544 by the end of the year, which represents an increase of 56 percent on an annual basis.

The platform has also identified a wide and largely exploited pipeline from the well -appropriate sites for PADEL development. There are currently 16,851 “current destination opportunities” – sports places such as golf courses, racket clubs, and football facilities that have unused lands suitable for PADEL. These sites are usually located in or near urban areas where the demand for entertainment activities is high. London alone represents 1086 of these opportunities, with 47 of which already submitted planning requests. Other cities that show the Prestol strong development capabilities include 206 sites, followed by Edinburgh, Leeds, and Manchester.

Besides sports places, Searchland has set 15,742 commercial properties all over the UK suitable for PADEL converting. These include unarpsed buildings or sites that can accommodate PADEL courts and are placed in areas with a possible prisoner audience. London is again leading this category, with 929 such, followed by Manchester, Leeds, Birmingham, Bradford, and Sheffield.

In addition to permanent sites, Searchland also set 674 “short -term investment opportunities”. These are large-scale development areas-such as residential properties with long construction tables-where PADEL courts can be temporarily installed to generate revenues before the start of full development. In many cases, these courts can be dismantled when needed or kept as an advantage of the final project. London is home to 151 of these short -term opportunities, while Bristol and Birmingham also provide potential.

Speaking of the results, Hugh Gibs, co-founder of Searchland, said that the high popularity of Badil is more than just a cultural moment-it is a clear indication in the market.

“The unusual height of Paltims in popularity is not just a direction,” he said. “It is a strong indication of landowners, developers and local authorities. A mixture of increased participation, relatively low preparation costs, and the powerful investment possibilities make Badil an ideal addition to both temporary and permanent development plans.”

With nearly 17,000 sites already identified as major opportunities, the probability of growth is enormous. As growth continues to grow and demand supply in many regions, Badil soon became one of the most important sports investments in the United Kingdom-which provides developers with a unique opportunity to meet the country’s appetite for the active spaces that depend on society.