A planning application has been submitted to build two floodlit padel courts at Old Joe's Driving Range in Great Cornard, near Sudbury. The proposal aims to enhance the existing leisure facility by introducing the fast-growing sport. The courts would integrate with current amenities, including a mini golf course.
Old Joe's Driving Range, located in Great Cornard on the edge of Sudbury, is proposing an expansion to include padel facilities. Adam Penny, the applicant, has lodged plans with Babergh District Council to construct two floodlit padel courts within the site's existing commercial area.
The courts would be positioned behind the current mini golf course, creating a central communal area between them for spectating and player rest. According to the application, this layout "integrates smoothly with the surrounding sports uses and maintains clear circulation routes for visitors." The development is described as a "logical and proportionate enhancement" of the site, building on its long history of recreational use.
Padel, a rapidly growing sport combining elements of tennis and squash, is not currently available in the Babergh area. The proposal argues that the location is "ideally positioned" to meet local demand. "The site has a long history of recreational use and the proposal builds naturally upon this context by introducing a modern, rapidly growing sport," the application states.
If approved, the addition could attract more visitors to the leisure spot, filling a gap in sports options nearby. The planning process is ongoing, with no decision date specified yet.