Wasps Rugby Club Plans Large Padel Facility
Proposing six courts at its Twyford Avenue ground
A visualisation of the aerial view of the facility from planning documents. Picture: Wasps FC
January 8, 2026
Wasps FC, the Acton-based rugby club, is looking to transform a corner of its historic Twyford Avenue Sports Ground into a large padel facility.
A full planning application has been submitted to the Ealing Council by Padeltastic Limited for the installation of six state-of-the-art padel tennis courts and a dedicated sports pavilion.
The proposal involves the erection of six padel courts covered open-sided canopies, allowing for year-round play regardless of the weather. Alongside the courts, a new single-story sports pavilion will be constructed. This hub will house a reception and retail area, seating for players and WC facilities.
The project also includes comprehensive hard and soft landscaping to try to ensure the new facilities blend seamlessly with the existing sports ground.
The chosen site for the padel centre is the south-western portion of the grounds by the car park. Currently, this area consists of a mix of modified grassland and existing hardstanding used for parking and storage containers.
The club says it aims to make efficient use of underutilised space without encroaching on the primary rugby pitches. The location is strategically placed near the existing Wasps FC clubhouse, with the intention that the new facility feels like an integrated part of the club’s existing social and sporting facilities.
Based on standard occupancy rates for a six-court facility, the development is expected to attract approximately 30,000 visitors per annum.
A visualisation of the new padel courts with the pavilion on the left. Picture: Wasps FC
Wasps FC, like many community sports clubs, is largely volunteer-run. The padel courts could represent a significant new revenue stream for a club which saw its income hit when the professional rugby team moved out before going into liquidation. By partnering with Padeltastic Limited, the club aims to secure long-term financial stability through rental income and increased footfall to their existing clubhouse facilities.
Other local sports institutions, such as Chiswick Rugby Club, have explored similar plans to introduce padel courts to their grounds.
The padel courts would be built on underutilised parts of the ground. Picture: Wasps FC
The revenue generated from padel helps subsidise the core rugby activities, maintaining the grounds and supporting youth programs that might otherwise struggle for funding. However, it will mean that a venue, which mainly was only busy at weekends, will now see extra traffic during the week.
The planning reference for the application is 254782FUL.
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