Tuesday May 5th 2026
Photo by Vincenzo Morellie (Unsplash)
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
It’s game, set and match for a bid to house a padel court at a farm on the outskirts of Kelso.
Padel is a racket sport that is a hybrid of tennis and squash, played on a smaller, enclosed court with glass walls, which keeps the ball in play longer and makes it easier for beginners to pick up.
Now a planning application for the change of use of an agricultural shed into a padel court at Cliftonhill Farm in Ednam has been rubber-stamped by Scottish Borders Council.
Cliftonhill Farm is a small organic farm which benefits from solar and biomass installations for power and heat respectively.
The farm also offers holiday accommodation in a mixture of traditional and modern cottages.
In his report approving the application, Euan Calvert, SBC assistant planning officer, states: “The proposals make use of an existing agricultural building and the use, in combination with the holiday business justification, is appropriate in scale and siting for this countryside location.
“The development will have little change to the existing appearance of the building. The building appears agricultural and, other than signage and the small clubhouse, it will continue to blend with the agricultural character.”
A report with the application stated: “As with many farms, there is a need to diversify in a bid to open new revenue streams which will assist in ensuring the viability of the farm going forward and maximising the use of existing assets.
“Padel is widely recognised as one of the world’s fastest-growing sports due to its social nature, accessibility, and ease of learning.
“The establishment of a single padel tennis facility will generate a new revenue stream for the farm, without substantially displacing current uses of the shed which can all be accommodated in other sites on the farm.
“The padel tennis facility will complement existing facilities for holiday guests including an outdoor tennis court, helping the farm to attract more guests by providing an additional, all-weather leisure option an even higher quality tourism experience.
“This will increase occupancy rates for the holiday accommodation, generating additional income for the farm as well as creating wider economic benefits through spending in local shops, restaurants and visitor attractions.”
The padel court will be available for use by locals and holiday-makers alike, and will provide a facility that is “not currently provided in the Scottish Borders”.
The report adds: “The proposed development can be accommodated within an existing farm shed without affecting the farming operation.”
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