8 Covered Padel Tennis Courts in the Green Belt Approved by Runnymede
Planning permission from Runnymede Borough Council for eight covered padel tennis courts at a golf club near Addlestone in the Surrey Green Belt, demonstrating the proposal constitutes appropriate outdoor sport and recreation that does not harm Green Belt openness.
PLANNING APPROVALSGREEN BELT APPROVALSRUNNYMEDESURREY
Andrew Ransome
7/24/20262 min read
In 2025, Runnymede Borough Council approved planning permission for eight covered padel tennis courts at a golf club near Addlestone in the Surrey Green Belt.
The proposal involved transforming an underused driving range into a year-round padel facility. I demonstrated the proposal fell within the NPPF's exception for appropriate outdoor sport and recreation in the Green Belt, causing no material harm to openness.
Covered Padel Tennis Court Approved Planning Permission in the Green Belt
I secured planning permission from Runnymede Borough Council for the development of eight outdoor padel tennis courts at a golf club near Addlestone in Surrey — a landmark result in a Green Belt location that reflects the rapid growth of padel as a sport in the UK.
Padel is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and demand for facilities in Surrey and the wider South East significantly outstrips current supply.
The proposed development transformed an underused driving range at the edge of the golf course into eight modern padel courts, each measuring 10m x 20m, covered by a lightweight transparent canopy structure up to 6.2m in height.
Development in the Green Belt is subject to stringent controls. New buildings are generally inappropriate unless they fall within a defined exception.
The key exception in this case was the provision of appropriate outdoor sport and recreation facilities — which the NPPF explicitly identifies as development that can be acceptable in the Green Belt, provided it does not cause undue harm to openness.
I demonstarted that padel courts are outdoor sport facilities within the meaning of the exception.
I also demonstrated that the transparent canopy was a visually minimal, low-impact structure that would not significantly harm the openness of the Green Belt or the character of the surrounding landscape.
Runnymede Borough Council accepted the case and approved the application.
Planning Application Advice
If you are seeking planning permission for sport or recreation facilities in the Green Belt, I can advise on how to frame the case within the NPPF's exceptions. Contact me to discuss.
Andrew Ransome MRTPI - Email: andrew@andrewransome.co.uk
About me
Andrew Ransome is a Planning Director and a Chartered Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI), with more than two decades of experience in town planning.
He specialises in delivering strategic planning solutions for complex developments across both rural and urban environments, helping clients navigate planning challenges and unlock development opportunities. Connect with Andrew on Linkedin.
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