Plans have been submitted to Darlington Borough Council for two new padel courts at Bannatyne Health Club and Spa in Darlington. The courts would replace overflow parking at the Haughton Road site. Padel, a growing racket sport blending tennis and squash, aims to enhance the club's offerings.
Bannatyne Health Club and Spa, located on Haughton Road in Darlington, currently provides a gym, swimming pool, spa facilities, and group exercise classes. The proposed addition of two padel courts would expand these amenities, targeting a broader range of activities for members and non-members alike.
The development plans include synthetic playing surfaces, glass surrounds, a canopy cover, and floodlighting to enable year-round use. To accommodate the courts, land used as overflow parking would be repurposed, with additional formal parking spaces created on site.
Duncan Bannatyne, chairman and chief executive of the Bannatyne Group, emphasized the strategic importance of padel in their UK investments. He stated: "Padel is an important part of our investment programme across the UK as we continue to evolve our clubs and introduce activities that appeal to a wide range of people. The sport is sociable, accessible and genuinely fun, which fits perfectly with our focus on wellbeing and community engagement. We are rolling out courts across a number of Bannatyne sites and, as Darlington is home to our head office, we are particularly pleased to bring forward these proposals here. Subject to planning approval, the new courts will give both members and non-members another fantastic way to stay active and spend time together."
Padel is played on an enclosed court, typically in doubles format, and is accessible to people of all ages and abilities. The sport has surged in popularity, especially in Spain where more than six million people play regularly. It is widely expected to become an Olympic event within the next decade.
This initiative aligns with the club's goal of promoting wellbeing and community engagement in Darlington, home to the group's head office. Approval from the council would allow the courts to open to the public, further integrating the sport into local recreational options.