Rapid Shift: England’s Tennis Courts Decline While Padel Facilities Multiply

Sport England data show that England has experienced its first net loss of tennis courts since at least 2000. Over the three-year period beginning in 2023, 183 courts—covering local-authority, community, school, health-facility and private venues—have been removed. At the same time, padel courts have expanded dramatically, rising from 382 in 2023 to more than 2,200 by mid-2026. The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) attributes the surge in padel participation to the sport’s smaller court size, under-arm serves and a blend of tennis and squash rules that make it easier for beginners. A LTA-commissioned study recorded one-million active padel players in May 2026, up from 860,000 at the end of 2025.

The Guardian

• Net loss of tennis courts: 183 (2023-2026).

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• Net gain of padel courts: roughly 1,800 (2023-2026).

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• 77 tennis courts closed at venues that subsequently added padel facilities.

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• Padel courts now outnumber tennis courts by a factor of roughly 1:11.

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• Regional construction: 39 new courts in Sheffield, 38 in North Yorkshire, 36 in Leeds, and 36 in Cheshire East.

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• Only about 0.3 % of displaced tennis courts have been directly replaced by padel courts, representing 7 % of all tennis courts.

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A spokesperson for the LTA noted that tennis participation has reached record levels, citing a recent programme that refurbished more than 3,000 park tennis courts and a youth initiative aimed at increasing engagement. The LTA also emphasized that most displaced courts were under-utilised or in poor condition, and that introducing padel has diversified venue offerings and attracted new community players. The governing body is collaborating with the UK government to secure investment for community tennis, padel and multi-sport hubs, with the goal of expanding year-round usage of both sports.

The Guardian

The data suggest that padel’s rapid growth is reshaping the landscape of grassroots sport in England. While the overall number of tennis courts remains far higher than padel courts, the shift reflects changing preferences for more accessible, socially oriented activities. By converting under-used tennis sites into padel venues, local authorities and clubs may sustain broader participation across socioeconomic groups, potentially stabilising facility provision in the long term.

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