A Warwick sports club has launched a bid to permanently install three padel courts over two of its existing tennis courts.

Warwick Boat Club was given temporary permission to keep a 'pop up' court it installed last year after a retrospective application was submitted.

Councillors at Warwick District Council allowed the court to stay in place until March 2026 as neighbours complained about the potential noise impact.

The Banbury Road club has now applied for planning permission to have three padel courts permanently in place.

"Since its installation, the club has experienced significant demand for padel and now proposes to replace this temporary planning permission with the installation of three permanent padel courts, on the surface of two adjoining tennis courts," the application explained.

It continued: "The club seeks to diversify and enhance the existing sporting and recreational offer at the site by introducing padel, a rapidly growing sport, for use by members and the wider local community."

When temporary permission was granted in August last year, one neighbour - who said he had been a member at Warwick Boat Club for 40 years - said he was "ashamed" at how the planning rules had not been followed and said the retrospective application was an "abuse" of the planning system.

Meanwhile the club said it needed to do what it can to diversify and boost revenues.

The latest application added: "This new proposal will help to diversify the club's sports facilities by repurposing two existing tennis courts to meet the growing regional demand for padel. 

"These new courts will be accessible to the general public on a pay-and-play basis, providing a valuable benefit to the wider community."

See the full application here.