A district could be set to get its first public padel courts, as the sport continues to sweep the nation.

Plans have been lodged for three courts and a clubhouse on New Haine Road, near Westwood Cross retail park, between Ramsgate and Broadstairs.

The number of people playing the sport, described as a mix of squash and tennis, has soared in recent years, with sites opening up across the county.

However, this would be the first one in Thanet, if applicant REWD Box (Thanet) Ltd gets the go-ahead for the scheme.

A statement submitted by Hume Planning Consultancy on behalf of REWD Box, and lodged with Thanet District Council (TDC) says: “The proposed establishment represents financial investment into the district to support the development of a growing sport, encouraging healthy and active lifestyles for the district’s residents.”

The area eyed up for the courts is just short of an acre, and to the west of the expansive retail park, next to the Marlowe Innovation Centre and Laleham Gap School.

Development is already taking place in the wider site, with permission granted in 2021 for up to 132 commercial units. REWD Box, described as “a collective of independents, innovators and entrepreneurs”, will also be based there.

In the summer, plans were approved for a medical campus on a field to the north, which will include a GP practice, care home, assisted living building and nursery.

Padel courts are smaller than tennis courts, with see-through walls which players use to bounce the ball against, similar to squash. But unlike squash, the players use nets.

According to the application, the courts would be partially covered by a canopy, and there will also be an “outer enclosure” made of fabric retractable walls, which would reach 10.95m in height.

The single-storey clubhouse also would include a reception, changing rooms and a small refreshment shop.

The centre would be open from 6am to 10pm and the project would create three full-time and three part-time jobs including a receptionist and operations manager.

Commenting in support of the application, on the TDC website, one person said: “Padel is one of the fastest growing sports in the UK and we need many more facilities to meet demand.

“Having these facilities in the local area would be fantastic. Why should we have to travel to Whitstable, which is often full?”

However, one neighbour raised concerns about the impact on nearby homes.

They wrote: “A building of nearly 11 metres is an obscene height to be encroaching on residential space.

“The road has become a residential area and padel courts are an eyesore which would be seen by all.

“The houses towards Haine Road would be most impacted though as they would have little to no sunlight in their gardens if this is built.

“Moreover, with the availability of squash and tennis courts all over Thanet, and padel locations only 20 minutes away in Whitstable and Deal, it seems the space could be better utilised for something people actually want.”

Hume says the court lighting will be contained “within the outer enclosure”, and therefore will not harm neighbouring homes.

The planning statement adds: “The overall height and nature of the proposed development is considered to be in keeping with the predominant scale of existing and approved development within the vicinity of the site.

“The design of the structure would be in keeping with surrounding commercial buildings.”

In the past few years padel courts have sprung up in east Kent, with sites in Deal, Whitstable, Folkestone, Ashford town centre and Wye.

Padel was invented in Mexico in 1969 and for decades it was a niche sport.

It soared in popularity during the pandemic, and by 2023 it was estimated there were 25 million players in more than 90 countries.