NAPTON PADEL PROJECT UPDATE 

September Update 2

Update on the Napton Padel Project

The Padel Project continues to make encouraging progress. The Napton Sports Association (NSA) has now submitted a planning application for two padel courts. According to Stratford District Council’s website, a decision is expected within eight weeks.

Our attention is now turning to the next stages. How the project will be financed? How the build programme will be managed? Who will run the courts once they are in place?

Over recent weeks, we have held very constructive discussions with both Napton Parish Council (NPC) and the Napton Sports Association (NSA) about roles, responsibilities, and how best to manage risks.

  • NPC remains very supportive of the project. However, it has become clear that the Council must, by law, obtain permission from the Secretary of State for the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) before taking out any loans. Preparing such an application can take up to five months. This raises concerns for both NPC and potential investors about the viability of the project if funding is delayed.
  • The NSA also continues to support the project. However, as a small charitable body, responsible for all the affiliated sports clubs, it is understandably cautious about taking on large loans, delivering a major capital build, or managing the courts once operational.

Given these challenges, it was important to identify a practical way forward. With 98% of residents backing the project in the recent village survey, momentum must be maintained.

Together, the Padel Project Committee and the NSA have therefore developed a new proposal which is to create a new charity, called Napton Padel Club. It would operate alongside but independently of the NSA. This new organisation would:

  • Apply for grants and loans in its own name.
  • Award contracts to Padel Court installation companies
  • Appoint contractors.
  • Manage the capital build programme.
  • Manage the padel courts once built
  • As an independent organisation, pose no financial risk to the Parish Council, nor to NSA or its affiliated clubs.
  • Hold the same licence agreement with NPC as the NSA.
  • Share the same core aim in its constitution as the NSA“to promote sport in Napton for the benefit of the community in the Parish of Napton.”
  • Financially support the NSA and Parish council in keeping with its charitable aims

With the enthusiastic support of the community, and the strong backing of both NPC and NSA, we believe this new structure offers a clear and sustainable path to delivering padel courts — and with them, the many health, wellbeing, and community benefits they will bring to Napton.

These proposals will be considered at the next Parish Council meeting.