District councillors will next week vote on whether to allow a new padel centre to open near Warwick and Leamington Spa, but council planners have said the scheme should be refused.

Earlier this year T.I. Evans & Sons applied for planning permission to change a storage unit at Squab Hall Farm into the new facility.

Plans state the Harbury Lane scheme would not change the size of the unit, but would see three indoor courts installed inside.

Changing rooms, a café and a seating area would also be created.

The application has been supported by Bishop's Tachbrook Parish Council who welcomed the addition of the facility to the parish.

However, planning professionals at Warwick District Council have said the loss of the storage unit and employment land has not been justified.

"The proposed development would result in the loss of the existing B8 employment land, which is not considered to be fully justified in accordance with the requirements as set out within Local Plan Policy EC3," a council report said.

"Additionally, the proposed development is not considered to be easily accessible using sustainable forms of transport, with access to the application site reliant upon the use of private cars.

"This would create a car dependent form of development, illustrating how the application site is in an unsustainable location."

The application said the courts would create six new jobs.

The facility would be open from 7am to 11pm, seven days a week, offering "a mix of pay-and-play bookings, memberships and coaching sessions".

Documents submitted to the local authority state Padel + Play would operate the site.

They said: "Padel + Play, Leamington Spa aims to become a boutique padel club and community hub that combines competitive sport, social connection and an exceptional lifestyle experience.

"Having successfully launched and grown our first club in Worcester - which opened in October 2025 and now operates at an average of 94% occupancy across the week - Padel + Play is expanding its footprint across the Midlands and beyond.

"Our second club in Stratford-upon-Avon is due to open in April 2026, and we have two further sites currently in planning in Hereford and Burntwood.

"Unit 8, Squab Hall Farm, Leamington Spa represents our next exciting step in that growth journey."

Councillors will vote on the application at the planning committee meeting on Wednesday 14 October.

Click here to see the application in full.

(Header image by Robin Stott via Geograph.org.uk)