Penrith is about to become part of a growing global sporting trend, with plans submitted to Westmorland and Furness Council for the development of three padel tennis courts at Newton Rigg.
Padel, a rapidly expanding sport described as a cross between tennis and squash, is known for its fast-paced, tactical gameplay and use of court walls to keep the ball in play. The sport is quick to pick up, combining action with accessibility. Visually, padel balls resemble tennis balls, though with slightly lower internal pressure to reduce bounce. The rackets differ significantly—constructed from a solid, slightly elastic foam-rubber mixture coated in plastic, they give the sport its paddle-like name.
Invented in 1965 in Acapulco, Mexico, padel has since become a widely popular sport across Central and South America and has taken Europe by storm, particularly in Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
In the UK, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) is the recognised governing body for padel and is committed to growing the sport “...by making it accessible, welcoming, enjoyable and inspiring...”
According to an LTA, padel is experiencing impressive growth in Great Britain. Research by the LTA showed that by the end of 2024, more than 400,000 adults and juniors had played padel at least once in the previous 12 months—up from just 15,000 in 2019. The number had risen to 89,000 by 2021 and 129,000 by the end of 2023. This surge in interest is being supported by a growing infrastructure, with around 900 courts now spread across 300 venues throughout the UK.
The new padel facility proposed at Newton Rigg will be located on a site currently used for short-term storage and distribution, linked to Cumbria’s gigabit broadband rollout that had been former tennis courts.
The plans include three courts with tensile fabric shelter roofs for all-weather play while remaining open-sided. Lighting will be designed to illuminate only the playing surface, minimising spillage and sky glow. A large adjoining car park, already in use with other sports facilities at the site, will provide ample parking. Changing and toilet facilities will be available in the existing sports hall.
Andrew Watt, acting as the agent for the application, said:
“The addition of pay-and-play padel courts would provide an entirely new facility, clustered with and complementing the existing sports offer at Newton Rigg. As far as we are aware, it would be the first such facility in the Penrith area.”
The proposed development is the latest in a series of initiatives reinvigorating the Newton Rigg site since the closure of Newton Rigg College. Under new ownership, the site is thriving, now home to local businesses, new enterprises, and specialist education providers.
A standout feature of the site's regeneration has been the continued investment in and public access to its sports facilities. These include:
Flood-lit, all-weather pitches with modern 3G surfacing (installed in 2022), suitable for football, hockey, tag rugby and other outdoor sports
Grass pitches for rugby, football and general outdoor activities
A heated sports hall with changing facilities, equipped for netball, basketball, badminton, gymnastics and more
An indoor equestrian arena with a viewing area (currently not in use)
The site is also home to the Cumbria Institute of Sport, which runs elite academies in football, rugby league and rugby union, offering Level 3 BTEC sports education alongside coaching, strength and conditioning, and physiotherapy support. Aspire Cheer Academy also operates weekly classes on site, training athletes for performance and competition.
Josie Savry, speaking on behalf of Leo Group, the site's owner, said:
“We are delighted to be adding to our already impressive sports facilities at Newton Rigg Estate. We are commitment to regenerating the Newton Rigg site for the Cumbrian community.”
“The addition of 3 all weather Padel courts in Eden will allow everyone from across Cumbria to access to this fantastic sport and we hope to start development before the end of the year.”
Catterlen Parish Council as the local parish council covering the Newton Rigg estate has given its support to the plans for the padle courts at Newton Rigg.
If Westmorland and Furness Council approve the plans, the courts would represent the first padel facility in the Penrith area, helping to further strengthening Newton Rigg’s role as a hub for sport and physical activity in Cumbria.
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