Forum Topic

Padel Courts on Common Land

So Rocks Lane Padel is seeking approval for two changes at the facility on Chiswick Back Common.  There is in fact rather more to this story than would appear at first glance. What is being proposed: - the permanent retention of protective vinyl panels on the western padel courts, and the extension of operational hours for floodlights.from 7:00am to 11:00pm daily. (Currently, lighting is officially permitted only between 8:00am and 10:00pm on weekdays and 8:00am until 9:00pm on weekends)What the report doesn’t say is that Rocks Lane already been operating in this way since 2022 even though that is not permitted by the terms of their 2004 agreement with Hounslow or allowed by terms of their existing planning permission. The application they have made would appear to be a retrospective one to “fix” that.  It is unclear whether the 2004 agreement with Hounslow has been or is intended to be amended. The vinyl panels have been in place since 2022 and although they are retractable they have in fact never ever been retracted during that time.  They are pretty unsightly and Rock Lane have recently applied to put in even more. If this was a private facility, on private land, with private parking facilities and well screened from public view it might be argued that Mr Warren was entitled to create a high price private club for members who were happy to travel long distances and pay such high prices.  The last known figure that Hounslow Council was receiving as a “use fee” was just £2000 per year.  But this is all happening on Chiswick Back Common which is Common Land which is there as a public amenity and as clearly stated in the 2004 agreement as community facility for local people and intended to be at affordable prices.  The agreement emphasised the requirement to be good neighbours.  Common land should is not generally supposed to have permanent buildings on it - the whole point is that they are supposed to be preserved as Open Spaces.  The clue is in the name. In the event that Common Land does get built on - this should only happen with consent from the Secretary of State with the Open  Spaces Society being a statutory consultee.  None of this appears to have happened or is this being proposed for either the existing constructions or for the proposed constructions.  Most of the space at Rocks Lane Chiswick can now only be used for padel which while it is an enjoyable and increasingly popular sport is impacting other popular but more accessible sports such as football, netball and tennis which also have more flexible spaces. But they are of course less profitable than the padel courts which are being hired out at between `£57 and £64 per hour. Is this the right way to go for an important area of Common land?

Jackie Elton ● 12d16 Comments

still open Sunday night 2 courts full it’s 11.15 pm

John Kennedy ● 6d

I’ve always had a problem with the private public deal that Hounslow did with Rocks Lane as though they supposedly still have a major stake in the the project they seem to take little interest on behalf of their residents concerns. I have complained in the past about the lack of designated vehicular access and the way Rocks Lane vehicles drive across the common damaging the grass which then has to be reseeded or turfed and now they put down fake grass outside one entrance. A lot of the degrassing of the area between the courts and Chiswick Common Rd/Elliot Rd is due to lack of management of the initial works on setting up the courts. Remember that double decker London bus and how it got there? Hounslow must be tougher with Rocks Lane.

Paul Hughes-Smith ● 7d

In other parts of LondonOpposition to padel is starting to build up:https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y08z57p53oAnd across the Channelhttps://www.thetimes.com/world/europe/article/french-revolt-over-noise-of-padel-courts-6l2d336k5But ultimately the problem here on Chiswick Common is not that padel itself is a bad thing. It is that this is supposed to be a local facility on Common with a range of sports let at a low rent by the Council.  It is not supposed a series of ugly buildings almost exclusively devoted to padel at extremely high prices.  The operator would be better advised to withdraw his plans and create sustainable relationships with the community.

Jackie Elton ● 9d

I fully agree that the flood lighting, along with a visible presence of sporting people, is welcome for when one comes home late at night particularly from Turnham Green tube station. There is of course general  lighting along the path. However this is against a backdrop of a casual, if not cynical, abuse of the planning constraints.I happen to be one of ‘the old folk’ as described in an earlier post. I have a clear view of the courts from my flat. My experience for the past week is as follows.Sunday - floodlights turned off post 23:00 - not entirely sure if they should be on at all on a SundaySaturday - floodlights turned off post midnight. 3 hours after they should beWeekdays - floodlights turned off post 23:00 each day. At least 1 hour after they should be each day.The real problem is the associated noise so late at night.I have no issue with people enjoying their chosen sporting activity but I am particularly aggrieved by the fact that most of us abide by rules in society but this company seem to flout planning laws seemingly with impunity.A grand irony being that if the extension to the floodlight use was agreed - and adhered to - it would be a reduction.

John Brown ● 9d

Not that this should override residents' concerns about noise and parking and misuse of public land, but I have found that the expansion of activities into the evening at Rocks Lane has made it feel safe to cut across Chiswick Back Common when returning home in the evening, even when I am on my own.

Felicity Caborn ● 9d

As for the noise, a padel court is about a third the size of a tennis court, so there can be up to three times as many padel courts on the same site.  As the courts are smaller, a greater number of players, often playing doubles, will hit the ball more frequently than in tennis, with the addition of mutually encouraging shouting. Play also includes hitting the ball against the resounding walls of the court, and the bats are solid rather than strung.  Several websites discuss the generally accepted problem of padel noise, with one commonly suggested solution from the trade being to provide 'screening' or 'a canopy'.  As we know, in our case this ends up looking like a large white warehouse building, which I suspect is more so they can play in any weather rather than out of any consideration for neighbours or passers by.

Peter Evans ● 11d

That’s certainly not uncommon. How many courts? Given the money they are charging it’s hardly surprising when nothing is being done to stop it.

Jackie Elton ● 11d

This Morning Play Started 7am and last night  finished at 11.45pm .This been the case for ages.

John Kennedy ● 11d

Don't leave it too late - about August 12th. hounslow.gov.uk/planning-building/search-planning-applicationsAnd then put the following P/2025/2226There are plenty of issuesHaving a very large permanent building on an Open SpaceVisual blight and instrusion on the CommonNoise very late at night and early in the morning

Jackie Elton ● 12d

While I'm all for outdoor recreation this padel structure must not be allowed to grow in size, and spoil the green and openness of a lovely common.

Denis I. Fox ● 12d

If you look at the Google StreetCam view from only a few years ago, all the outdoor tennis, football and padel courts were hardly visible behind the hedge and trees bordering the site. These big new white industrial warehouse buildings are something else entirely and have no place on an open space like this.

Peter Evans ● 12d

Yes. And under Application P/2025/0755 they want to erect another megatent facing the open part of Chiswick Common that will damage everyone's amenity. Again a pseudo retractable canopy and vynil panels (which incidentally aren't retractable) which will be a permanently looming presence. Padel is here to stay, but not as an indoor sport on Chiswick Common. Please oppose this application.

MR Timothy George ● 12d

Firstly, no a tennis court is not regarded as a permanent building. However the type of construction over the padel court that that is on the Common next to Fishers Lane absolutely is.  It originally got through Planning on the basis that it was a retractable roof to be used in case of rain but in fact it is covered on all sides and it is has never been retracted at any time. It is a building and therefore should not be built on an Open Space unless there is special consent from the Secretary of State.  It is a form of mission creep which has got round the system and now is legitimising what really never have been put up in there the first place and is the detriment of the area.

Jackie Elton ● 12d

Wouldn’t it be true to say that tennis also makes a continuous noise and would need artificial lighting late into the night?

Tim English ● 12d

What specifically in the 2004 agreement do you believe the padel courts are in breach of?Given that there have been a whole series of planning applications as the facility has grown, is it not the case that the planning department appear to have conceded the point that the structures on the site are not permanent buildings and therefore do not breach the restrictions on what can be placed on common land?

Jeremy Parkinson ● 12d

I've never been happy with the progressive encroachment of what looks like an industrial warehouses, albeit with 'temporary' walls and roofing, on our previously open space.  What was originally a site for a healthy outdoor sporting activity, ie tennis, now supports an activity that makes a continuous noise and needs artificial lighting late into the night.  I'm surprised the old folk in their homes across the common ever get any sleep!

Peter Evans ● 12d