Planning Officers Back Dukes Meadows Padel Court Proposal
45 had signed petition against Chiswick Rugby Club plan
A visualisation of how the courts would look from the planning application. Picture: Chiswick Rugby Club
February 6, 2026
Plans to create five padel tennis courts at Chiswick Rugby Club have been recommended for approval by planning officers, despite objections from some residents and a petition signed by 45 people.
The application (P/2025/2646), submitted for the club’s site at Dukes Meadows, includes proposals for three containers, floodlights, an entertainment and seating area, and associated services such as cycle parking. The site lies within the Chiswick Homefields ward.
Planning officers concluded that the scheme would not harm the local transport network and recommended approval subject to conditions on noise, lighting, and operational hours. They also noted a 26.79% Biodiversity Net Gain and deemed the ecological impact acceptable. A Community Benefits Statement has been submitted, and further details will be required as part of the approval conditions.
The proposal attracted 66 supporting comments, eight objections, and four expressions of concern, alongside the petition. Supporters highlighted padel’s rapid growth and its potential to benefit schools, grassroots players, and recreational groups. They also praised the health and social inclusion benefits, and the opportunity for the rugby club to generate additional income and secure its long-term sustainability.
Objections focused on traffic management, noise and light pollution, and the impact on wildlife. Critics argued that the club already causes noise nuisance and that the lighting report lacked a distribution map and curfew details. Concerns were also raised about the site’s location within Metropolitan Open Land (MOL), with calls to preserve its green character.
The application will now be considered by councillors at a forthcoming planning meeting.
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