PDL Padel United is thrilled to announce that we have secured planning permission for a brand new outdoor floodlit padel court at Great Dunmow Leisure Centre in Essex.
In partnership with 1Life Leisure and Helena Romanes School, this marks PDL Padel United’s first-ever court on school grounds.
Following the huge success of our pioneering padel courts at Plymouth Marjon University, we are now extending our proven community-first model into schools. Hybrid school-community padel facilities are still very rare in the UK – with only two other similar models currently operating nationwide. This new court at Great Dunmow continues our mission to make affordable, high-quality padel accessible to everyone, completely free for school pupils, and available to local families and players of all ages and abilities.
A True Community Partnership
Located right alongside the existing tennis and netball facilities, the court will be used exclusively by Helena Romanes School and its pupils during school hours. Outside of school time, PDL Padel United will operate the court for the wider Great Dunmow community.
Opening times*
- Term-time evenings: 5pm – 10pm
- Weekends and all non-term times: Full public access (exact hours to be confirmed soon)
*Construction is scheduled to begin in July 2026 during the school holidays.
Why This Matters: Affordable, Quality Padel for Communities
At PDL Padel United we believe padel should be for everyone – not just a select few. That’s why every project focuses on:
- Transparent, genuinely affordable pricing
- Premium courts built to the highest standards (panoramic glass, floodlighting, perfect playing surface)
- Real community integration that benefits schools, pupils and local residents alike
This new school-based facility is the next natural step after our university success and reinforces our core promise: affordable. quality. community.
A Big Thanks to…
A huge thank you to our partners 1Life Leisure and Helena Romanes School for working with us to make this happen.
We’ll be sharing regular construction updates, exact opening dates and booking info right here.
Watch this space – Great Dunmow’s new padel court is coming soon! 🎾
PDL Padel United – Affordable. Quality. Community. Bringing world-class padel to Essex and beyond.
