Four Padel courts proposed for Southsea seafront site
The proposal would replace existing tennis and basketball courts
Southsea could be home to four new padel tennis courts, following plans submitted to the planning committee next week.
The application, submitted on behalf of Court X, proposes four enclosed padel courts on an all-weather site that currently houses two tennis courts as well as basketball and netball courts.
The site is to the east of The Rose Gardens in Southsea with Portsmouth Cricket Club to the west, next to the footpath connecting Eastney Esplanade with Eastern Parade.
The courts would be uncovered, with a four-metre acoustic wall with timber cladding along the northern edge of the site. If approved, the courts would be open daily from 9am to 9pm.
The plans have proved popular with many local residents – 47 of the 61 comments received were supportive. But 14 objections triggered the application’s referral to committee, with concerns raised about noise, floodlighting, and the site’s proximity to homes.
Some objectors argued the courts should be at least 100 metres from homes, and warned that noise and artificial lighting could disturb wildlife in the area – including birds, bats and geese.
Council reports “noted two existing tennis courts would be lost and the existing netball and basketball court would be reduced in size. This is considered acceptable considering there are lots of other, better quality, tennis courts within the vicinity.”
Padel is a racket sport combining elements of tennis and squash, typically played in doubles on a smaller enclosed court where walls are part of play.
It uses solid rackets and a tennis-like ball, with the same scoring system as tennis. Proponents say the game’s emphasis on teamwork and strategy over power makes it more accessible than traditional racket sports.
The game has seen explosive growth in the UK in recent years, with the number of courts rising from just 68 in 2019 to more than 1,550 across 559 venues by the end of 2025.
Portsmouth City Council’s planning committee will decide the application on 17 June.
It follows another proposal for two padel tennis courts at the Pompey Health and Fitness Centre on Copnor Road, which was granted permission in January this year.