A planning application has been submitted by Wantage Lawn Tennis Club to establish new racquet sport facilities at Memorial Park.
The proposal seeks permission to construct two padel courts alongside one dedicated pickleball court on the parkland site.
The development would preserve a single existing tennis court while introducing the new playing surfaces.
According to the club, the additional facilities would serve community members and fall under the organisation’s management.
The projected expenditure for the scheme totals approximately £160,000, with multiple funding sources currently under consideration.
Section 106 agreements have been identified as one potential avenue for financial support.
Vale of White Horse District Council is anticipated to approve a grant allocation of £256,526 directed toward the courts project, with the entirety of this sum drawn from section 10 resources.
A full council vote on this funding arrangement is scheduled to occur this week.
The club has engaged extensively with Gabriel McLaughlin MRICS, who serves as Strategic Property Development and Corporate Landlord for both South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse District Councils, regarding the proposal.
Grove Parish Council has registered formal objections to the utilisation of certain section 106 moneys, citing intentions to progress its own plans for tennis, padel and pickleball infrastructure on publicly accessible open space within the parish boundary.
Tennis Oxfordshire, the Lawn Tennis Association, and specialist contractors Hexa and En Tout Cas have all conducted site visits and provided cost estimates as part of the consultation process.
Currently, no padel courts exist in the surrounding area encompassing Wantage and Grove.
Both sports have experienced significant increases in participation rates.
National figures indicate approximately 90,000 padel players across the United Kingdom, supported by roughly 300 existing courts.
This contrasts sharply with Spain, where around 20,000 padel courts are operational.
The governing association has established an ambition that 70 percent of new padel facilities should be developed through tennis clubs, public parks, educational institutions and higher education establishments.
Wantage Lawn Tennis Club currently maintains six tennis courts.
Membership comprises approximately 130 adult individuals and 100 junior participants.
The venue delivers various community initiatives, including coaching programmes, walking tennis sessions and inclusive activities.
The organisation relocated to Manor Park in 2016 and subsequently undertook significant facility improvements.
According to association representatives, this track record demonstrates the club’s capability to execute substantial projects and represents sound utilisation of grant funding received through section 106 arrangements and other sources.
Andy Aitken, the club’s coach, is presently pursuing professional qualifications in both padel and pickleball instruction.
The planning application remains under consideration, with a determination from the local planning authority expected in due course.