Covered padel courts proposed at Portgower Place in Stockbridge

Two covered padel tennis courts could be built at Portgower Place in Stockbridge under a new planning application now with the City of Edinburgh Council.

The proposal is for two padel courts covered by steel-frame structures, with associated access paths, fencing and landscaping. The site address is 19 Portgower Place, EH4 1HQ, close to Raeburn Place and within one of Edinburgh’s best-known residential and sporting neighbourhoods.

Padel has grown quickly across the UK, and new courts can attract attention because they are outdoor leisure facilities with visible structures, lighting and fencing often central to how neighbours experience them. This application is therefore one to watch for Stockbridge residents, nearby businesses, sports users and anyone interested in how local recreation facilities are changing in the city.

What is proposed

The application seeks permission for:

• two padel tennis courts;
• steel-frame structures to cover the courts;
• new access paths;
• fencing; and
• landscaping around the courts.

The short planning description does not give a proposed opening date or identify an operator. It also does not state the height of the structures in the summary wording, so anyone looking at likely visual impact should check the drawings and supporting documents on the council portal.

The proposal is classed here as a public-facing leisure and community project because it would add sports infrastructure in a neighbourhood setting rather than create housing, offices or retail space.

Where the site is

The application address is 19 Portgower Place, Stockbridge, Edinburgh EH4 1HQ. Portgower Place sits just off the Raeburn Place area, near a cluster of sports and community uses as well as homes, shops, cafes and local services.

Web search context links the location with The Grange Club, a long-established sports club in Stockbridge. The planning portal address for this application is 19 Portgower Place, while search results also refer to The Grange Club at Portgower Place.

For residents, the location matters because the proposal is not hidden away on an industrial estate or edge-of-city leisure park. It sits in a central neighbourhood where changes to sports facilities, boundary treatments, footpaths and landscaping can affect local movement, outlook and the character of the immediate area.

Why padel courts attract attention

Padel courts are smaller than traditional tennis courts and are enclosed by walls or fencing. They are popular because the sport is easy to pick up, sociable and usually played in doubles. But planning applications for padel facilities can raise local questions because the courts are often highly visible and can be used intensively.

For this Stockbridge proposal, the most important points for neighbours are likely to be the physical form of the development: two covered courts, steel-framed structures, new fencing and changes to paths and landscaping.

Those elements can influence how the site looks from nearby streets and properties, how people enter and move through the grounds, and how the sports use fits with its surroundings. The addition of covered courts also means the proposal is more than a simple marked-out playing surface.

What could change on the ground

If approved, the most visible change would be the introduction of two covered padel courts. The steel-frame structures would make the courts stand out more than uncovered courts, especially when seen from nearby open areas or neighbouring properties.

New access paths would alter how players and visitors reach the courts. Fencing would define the playing area and boundaries around the facility. Landscaping is also proposed, which could help shape how the new structures sit within the wider site.

The application summary refers to associated works but does not set out the detailed appearance of every element in the short description. The council’s drawings are therefore the key place to check the position of the courts, the coverage, the fencing layout and the landscaping treatment.

Planning status

The application was received and validated by the City of Edinburgh Council on 12 June 2026. Its current status is listed as awaiting assessment.

That means the council has not yet issued a decision. At this stage, the proposal will be assessed against relevant planning policies and site considerations before a decision is made through the planning process.

A previous web search result points to an earlier padel-court planning case associated with The Grange Club and Portgower Place, including an appeal reference on the Scottish Government’s Planning and Environmental Appeals Division website. The current application is a separate 2026 planning reference and should be checked on its own terms through the City of Edinburgh Council planning portal.

How to view the application

Residents and interested parties can search the City of Edinburgh Council planning portal using the reference number 26/02499/FUL.

The application is described as: “Construction of two padel tennis courts covered by steel frame structures with associated works to provide new access paths, fencing and landscaping.”

The site address is 19 Portgower Place, Stockbridge, Edinburgh EH4 1HQ.