News: Double success as two sets of Rotherham padel plans passed

Two sets of plans for new padel facilities in Rotherham have been approved.

Rothbiz has previously featured updated plans for new padel courts at Hellaby, and at the Grange Golf Club in Kimberworth.

Padel is a form of tennis that originated in Mexico in 1969, grew across South America before making it to Spain. The sport is now rapidly expanding across Europe.

The LTA says that since 2020 the number of padel courts in Britain grew from 50 to over 800, while annual participation rose from 15,000 in 2019 to 400,000 players in 2025.

At Hellaby, Top Play Enterprises has seen plans approved to convert a vacant 33,654 sq ft warehouse. Proposals show how nine padel courts could be created in a vacant building on Sandbeck Way, with one court described as a match court, surrounded by glass and viewing areas.

The ground floor would also include a reception, bar and kitchen, plus a gym and changing rooms. Upstairs on the mezzanine level, plans show seating and viewing area plus studio space and a room for "fire and ice" treatments through a sauna/steam and an ice bath.

The planning permission states that the leisure / gym facilities shall only be used in conjunction with the use of the padel courts and shall not be made available to non members.

Visit Rotherham reports that the new venue is set to be called, Go2Padel.

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At Grange Golf Club, Top Play's approved application is for the installation and provision of three flexi Padel Courts with associated enclosures and lighting and areas of soft landscaping located next to the club house on land which has previously been used as an outdoor event space and the siting of a large marquee.

The golf course is allocated Green Belt and planners at Rotherham Council said that the proposal is considered to be not inappropriate development with the siting of the padel court structure only having a limited impact on the openness of the Green Belt.

In approving the plans, the planner's concluded: "Overall, the principle of an extended recreational facility in this Green Belt location is considered appropriate outdoor recreation in land use terms and its co-location to support the viability of a long established golf club is considered acceptable. The size and siting of the facility close to the existing club house building is considered to be appropriate and will not have a harmful visual impact of the surroundings or on the openness of the adjacent Green Belt.

"The use is not considered to generate any significant noise issues over and above the existing golf club use."

Rothbiz has previously reported on approved plans for a refurbishment programme of the existing club house at Grange Golf Club, and the conversion of former agricultural buildings so that they can be used as holiday guest houses.

Go2Padel website

Images: Top Play

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News: Rotherham padel plans upgraded - new facilities added

Having already secured approval, applicants have gone back to the drawing board to update proposals for a new padel facility in Rotherham - the first of its kind in the borough.

Rothbiz reported last year on approval for plans by Top Play to convert a vacant 33,654 sq ft warehouse at Hellaby.

Padel is a form of tennis that originated in Mexico in 1969, grew across South America before making it to Spain. The sport is now rapidly expanding across Europe.

Plans from Top Play show how nine padel courts could be created in a vacant building on Sandbeck Way, with one court described as a match court, surrounded by glass and viewing areas. The plans also included an ancillary café / bar for users of the facility.

Approved without going before the council's planning board, officers concluded that the "proposals are compatible with adjacent existing and proposed land uses and any impact on amenity can be appropriately mitigated."

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Now a new application has been submitted for the same building, with a few changes.

The padel court layouts remain the same, including the glass match court, but new plans for the ground floor show the reception, bar and kitchen remaining but with office space removed to make way for a gym. Changing rooms are now shown on a new area not on the original plans down the side of the building.

Upstairs on the mezzanine level, the seating and viewing area remains but original plans for changing rooms and office space have been replaced by studio space and a room for "fire and ice" treatments through a sauna/steam and an ice bath.

The courts could provide 12 staff positions and the proposed opening hours are Monday to Friday 7am - 10pm and Saturdays and Sundays 8am - 9 pm.

52 parking spaces are included in the plans and there is potential for further parking within the site curtilage. Sandbeck Way is subject to a no waiting at any time restriction.

Images: CPP / LTA

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News: Green light for Rotherham golf club revamp

Proposals for significant upgrades to a Rotherham golf club have been approved. Operators say that a diversified offer is key to the future of the business.

Rothbiz reported last year on a planned refurbishment programme of the existing club house, and the conversion of former agricultural buildings so that they can be used as holiday guest housesa at Grange Park Golf Club at Kimberworth.

The course was laid out in the 1970's on former coal workings where the freehold ownership passed to the Council. The course and clubhouse was let to Grange Park Golf Club Limited in 2005.

In 2023 local businessman Peter Eyre was approached to look at assisting the company who had debts of £500,000 and were in the process of appointing an administrator.

The plans from Top Play for the club house include a single-story infill entrance extension that would create a new contemporary entrance and meeting area, whilst increasing the existing external decked and seating area along the western elevation would expand the hospitality facilities to the rear overlooking the 18th green.

For two existing storage barns, the plan is to fully refurbish and upgrade the buildings to high standards to create holiday lets - three separate 2-bed, two storey units in one barn and two self contained 2-bed apartments in the other.

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The plans were approved without going before the council's planning board. The main issue was if the proposal constitutes inappropriate development in the green belt.

Officers explained: "Appropriate facilities for sport and recreation are considered to be exemptions from inappropriate development as are extensions to buildings provided that they are not disproportionate.

"The extension of the clubhouse building is intended to improve the existing recreational offer through a modernised facility which will increase the attractiveness of the site and venue and provide a secondary associated income to facilitate the continued and linked use of the golf course. The proposal is considered to represent appropriate facilities for outdoor sport and recreation."

Regarding the change of use element, the planning report adds that it: "seeks to re-use the structure of the existing outbuilding. The existing building is considered to be of a substantial and permanent construction and therefore not inappropriate development.

"The conversion of the existing disused outbuildings which forms part of the planning unit is also intended to allow for overnight stays to be used in conjunction with the improved golf facility. It is considered necessary to condition this for use in conjunction with the golf facility, as an unrelated use of this conversion to an open hotel use has the potential to generate additional traffic and disturbance to the surroundings."

Regarding the openness of the green belt, the planners conclude that "the operational development would result in a low or limited impact on the openness of the Green Belt and would not conflict with the purposes of including land within it. As such, the proposal is not considered to comprise inappropriate development within the Green Belt."

Top Play has also applied to site three flexi padel courts next to the club house on land which has previously been used as an outdoor event space and the siting of a large marquee. A decision is awaited.

Grange Park Golf Club website

Images: Grange Park Golf Club

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News: Rotherham padel plans passed

Plans have been approved that will enable the fast-growing, fast-paced, social racket sport of padel to be played in Rotherham.

Rothbiz revealed in July that a vacant 33,654 sq ft warehouse at Hellaby would be converted into courts if a change of use application is approved.

Padel is a form of tennis that originated in Mexico in 1969, grew across South America before making it to Spain. The sport is now rapidly expanding across Europe.

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) says that since 2020 the number of padel courts in Britain grew from 50 to over 800, while annual participation rose from 15,000 in 2019 to 400,000 players in 2025. The LTA has backed the proposals for what would be the first indoor Padel courts in Rotherham.

Plans from Top Play show how nine padel courts could be created in a vacanct building on Sandbeck Way, with one court described as a match court, surrounded by glass and viewing areas. The plans also include an ancilliary café / bar for users of the facility.

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Approved without going before the council's planning board, officers concluded that the "proposals are compatible with adjacent existing and proposed land uses and any impact on amenity can be appropriately mitigated."

Applicants also showed that the site has been marketed and that there is no demand for an employment use in the unit.

The plans state: “The existing building is not viable for the current uses; the size and height is limited to providing the usage this was designed for. There are currently various modern buildings in the vicinity offering much more viable alternatives. There are currently several units on this site within the local vicinity offering retail uses and commercial uses that have received previous approval and support for a change of use conversion.”

Officers agreed, stating: "In terms of land use conflicts the site is located on the edge of the industrial estate, being the first road off the main dual carriageway access into the estate, where there are multiple nearby units which are being used for a retail or community use such as a food store, a pet food store, and a children’s indoor play area in addition to RMBC maintenance depot and associated offices."

The courts could provide 12 staff positions and the proposed opening hours are Monday to Friday 7am - 10pm and Saturdays and Sundays 8am - 9 pm.

52 parking spaces are included in the plans and there is potential for further parking within the site curtilage. Sandbeck Way is subject to a no waiting at any time restriction.

Images: LTA / CPP

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News: Plans served up for first padel courts in Rotherham

Plans have been set out to bring the fast-growing, fast-paced, social racket sport of padel to Rotherham.

A vacant 33,654 sq ft warehouse would be converted into courts if a change of use application is approved.

Rothbiz reported in May that Top Play Limited, which shares directors with Pocket Sports Bars Ltd and other Eyre family businesses, was assessing the potential introduction of new padel courts at The Grange Golf Club in Kimberworth.

Now attention has been turned to a unit across Rotherham, at Hellaby.

Padel is a form of tennis that originated in Mexico in 1969, grew across South America before making it to Spain. The sport is now rapidly expanding across Europe.

The Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) says that since 2020 the number of padel courts in Britain grew from 50 to over 800, while annual participation rose from 15,000 in 2019 to 400,000 players in 2025.

Plans from Top Play show how nine padel courts could be created in the building on Sandbeck Way, with one court described as a match court, surrounded by glass and viewing areas.

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The plans also include an ancilliary café / bar for users of the facility with 37 minimum on-site car parking spaces plus an additional 14 car parking spaces for overspill in the adjacent unit.

Applicants state: "The current building was constructed in the 1970s as factory and warehouse usage. A two-story office extension to the front was constructed in the early 1980s.

"The existing building is not viable for the current uses; the size and height is limited to providing the usage this was designed for. There are currently various modern buildings in the vicinity offering much more viable alternatives."

If approved, the courts could provide 12 staff positions.

The proposed opening hours are Monday to Friday 7am - 10pm and Saturdays and Sundays 8am - 9 pm.

A letter of support from the LTA states: "Padel is a highly accessible sport, with players able to quickly reach a level of play where they can enjoy friendly and competitive games. It can make a significant contribution to the development of healthier lifestyles by encouraging people to be more physically active and it also facilitates social interaction and can positively contribution to improved mental health and wellbeing.

"This site will provide the first indoor Padel courts in Rotherham, and this will help ensure that that the local community is able to participate in this fast growing sport throughout the year regardless of the weather. The indoor venue will also create a sporting hub for local people, as has been demonstrated with the evolvement of other indoor Padel centres, and this will provide a facility where the local community can come together socially and keep physically active."

Images: CPP / LTA

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News: Early plans set out to bring padel to Rotherham

Plans could be about to be served up to bring the fast-growing, fast-paced, social racket sport of padel to Rotherham.

A puropse-built facility could breathe new life into a Rotherham golf course..

Padel is a form of tennis that originated in Mexico in 1969, grew across South America before making it to Spain. The sport is now rapidly expanding across Europe.

The LTA says that since 2020 the number of padel courts in Britain grew from 50 to over 800, while annual participation rose from 15,000 in 2019 to 400,000 players in 2025.

Now a pre-application planning enquiry has been made to ascertain Rotherham Council's opinions on the potential introduction of new padel courts at The Grange Golf Club in Kimberworth.

Rothbiz reported last year on new investors coming on board at the former municipal course.

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Top Play Limited, which shares directors with Pocket Sports Bars Ltd and other Eyre family businesses, talked about a significant refurbishment and upgrade to the current facilities.

Padel is played on what looks like a smaller tennis court enclosed by walls made of glass or mesh. It is predominantly played as doubles and suitable for anyone to play as it is easy to learn the basic skills.

Early plans show two options for locating the courts. Four courts could be positioned opposite the club house next to the farm buildings used by the greenkeepers for storage. Alternatively, four courts could be located alongside the access road as it enters the current car park.

Grange Park Golf Club was laid out in the 1970's on former coal workings where the freehold ownership passed to the Council. The course and clubhouse was let to Grange Park Golf Club Limited in 2005.

The leases expired with the tenant having the right to renewal but Rotherham Council were reluctant to sign a new lease as it was owed over £250,000 in rent and business rates.

Grange Park Golf Club website

Images: LTA

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