LTA and LTA Tennis Foundation investment delivers social impact across tennis and padel communities
• 4 minute read
Investment in high quality tennis and padel facilities by the LTA and LTA Tennis Foundation is sparking a surge of community activity across the country, opening doors, energising grassroots sport, and turning local venues into vibrant year-round hubs of play and participation.
A survey of venues who recently received funding shows the impact of targeted infrastructure investment. Modern courts, upgraded amenities, and digital-first access are driving a surge in new players, thriving programmes, and stronger community connections.
Quick Access Loans
One of the ways the LTA is helping is through the Quick Access Loan Scheme (QAL), which is funded by the LTA Tennis Foundation. Clubs and venues have been able to expand their facilities and widen access through the scheme.
In 2025 the scheme committed an investment of £2 million across a variety of projects including:
- 14 covered tennis and padel courts
- 34 floodlit tennis and padel courts
Clubs and venues taking advantage of the scheme continue to build on the development of community outreach programmes that support the LTA and LTA Tennis Foundation’s vision of ‘tennis opened up.’ The aim is for tennis and padel, and the fantastic benefits they provide, to be open to as many people as possible across the whole of Britain.
Participation Growth
This year venues that received QAL reported significant growth in both adult and junior memberships, demonstrating the impact of improved facilities on long-term engagement.
On average, each venue saw:
- 104 new adult members and 31 new junior members.
- 58 additional adults and 75 juniors enjoying coaching programmes
Venues have also seen a rapid expansion of access to local communities on a pay and play basis, which lowers costs and helps welcome new participants. Many venues with no previous pay and play provision reported hundreds of annual bookings with an average increase of 500 pay and play non-member bookings per venue.
Tom Gibbins, Head of Programme and Property Strategy and Foundation Development at the LTA: “Our investment in high-quality tennis and padel facilities is transforming communities across Britain. By creating modern, accessible places to play - from covered courts and floodlit facilities to revitalised park sites and new indoor centres - we’re opening doors for thousands of people to get active, connect with others, and enjoy these sports year-round. These facilities are not just improving how people play; they’re strengthening local programmes, inspiring new players of all ages, and ensuring that tennis and padel truly are open to everyone.”
The investment has improved courts up and down the country. In Sheffield, a landmark development for community sport, health and recreation was officially unveiled in September with the opening of the new Hillsborough Park Activity Hub, which included new padel and tennis courts and a café.
These facilities are not just improving how people play, they’re strengthening local programmes, inspiring new players of all ages, and ensuring that tennis and padel truly are open to everyone.
Another successful example of the positive impact of the loan scheme is Bishopton Tennis Club in the west of Glasgow, who received a loan to install floodlights. In addition to extended hours of play, the floodlights will enhance the club's community efforts by supporting after-school sessions for children and young people, extending social evenings, and offering additional coaching opportunities. The club is keen to attract more female members and already has several programmes to help with this.
Park Tennis Project
2025 also saw the culmination of the three year Park Tennis Project. The £45 million nationwide investment by the UK Government, local partners and LTA Tennis Foundation, delivered by the LTA, has transformed more than 3,000 thousand park tennis courts with more than 50 per cent in areas of higher social deprivation. This has seen over 500,000 people playing annually.
To mark the end of the project, tennis legend Andy Murray visited a redeveloped court in West Byfleet, Surrey alongside children from West Byfleet Junior School in June.
Champion Andy Murray said: “Tennis has given me so much and it all started on a local court, just hitting balls with family and friends. It’s great that so many more people around the country are now getting to play tennis in local parks, thanks to the LTA’s Park Tennis Project.
"These are places where anyone can pick up a racket and play, where communities can come together and the next generation can access tennis. It’s really exciting to see how successful this project has been in opening up opportunities to play for people who might never have had the chance to play the sport before.’’
The Transforming Scottish Indoor Tennis Fund
The LTA and LTA Tennis Foundation have also been working closely with partners in Scotland to offer more chances to play the game all year round. The Transforming Scottish Indoor Tennis Fund will see a significant investment into Scottish tennis facilities over the course of the next 10 years, with £15m committed by this partnership, for the development of indoor tennis centres in Scotland.
The three new courts at the King George V sports complex in Dumfries is due to open by the end of December with the official opening taking place next month. The project is another important landmark in the ongoing work to improve year-round access to tennis across the country. It will be the third indoor tennis centre built in Scotland recently. Centres in Edinburgh and Elgin have opened since the end of 2023, meaning the TSIT fund has helped build 13 indoor courts. Partners are in the process of exploring exciting options for new locations in 2026.
Quick Access Loans
Find out more about the Quick Access Loan Scheme and how it might be able to support facility development in your community
