Isleworth Leisure Centre Set for New Padel Courts
Council Approves £950k investment in new facilities
Two of the courts at the centre will be converted. Picture: Lampton Leisure
January 21, 2026
Isleworth is set to gain three new padel courts after Hounslow Council approved funding to expand the borough’s racquet-sport facilities.
The plans, confirmed on 20 January, will see two of the four existing tennis courts at Isleworth Leisure Centre converted into three padel courts, with a further three courts created at Hanworth Leisure Centre. The £950,000 project is expected to generate £1.4 million in additional income over four years, according to council projections.
Padel — a fast-growing sport played on a smaller enclosed court with lighter racquets — has surged in popularity across Europe and is increasingly visible in London. Hounslow Council says the new courts will help diversify its racquet-sport offer and respond to changing demand, with tennis usage down 27% since before the pandemic.
While many Isleworth residents are likely to welcome the new facilities, the announcement comes at a time when the area is experiencing a notable expansion of sports infrastructure. A application has been submitted by Padel Shift in partnership with Northumberland Estates in an unused part of Syon Park.
There have been several other recent announcements of new padel facilities in the broader area including by Wasps FC in Acton, Chiswick RFC and the Quinton Hogg Memorial Sports Ground on Hartington Road in Chiswick. Some concerns have been raised that the ‘padel craze’ is unsustainable .
Councillor Salman Shaheen, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Public Spaces, argues that padel will broaden access to sport rather than duplicate existing provision.
“I'm proud we are investing nearly £1 million to bring padel to our leisure centres, in Isleworth and Hanworth, for the first time. There can be no greater investment than in the health and wellbeing of our residents.”
He added that padel’s accessibility — suitable for a wide range of ages and abilities — makes it a strong addition to the borough’s sports offer.
The council’s own data shows a decline in tennis participation, with courts underused compared to pre-pandemic levels. Repurposing two of Isleworth’s four tennis courts is seen as a way to adapt to changing habits without requiring new land or major construction.
The council has said it will consult with residents before submitting the project to planning, with construction expected to begin in 2026 and the courts opening in spring/summer 2027. Lampton Leisure, the council’s leisure partner, will manage the new facilities.
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