Padel courts approved for former Cleethorpes zoo

Plans for padel courts at a former zoo have been approved.

North East Lincolnshire Council has granted permission for five outdoor courts to be built on the site of what was Jungle Zoo, off Kings Road, Cleethorpes.

The development will include a clubhouse built using shipping containers, changing rooms and storage facilities.

Padel, which the Lawn Tennis Association says is "the fastest-growing sport in the world", is a racquet sport played on courts about three-quarters of the size of those used for tennis.

There will be four doubles courts and one singles court at the site, with four courts having rain canopies so they can be used year-round.

The project will be run by East Coast Padel, which was founded by four friends who already run a padel club on Harpings Road, Hull.

Grimsby, Cleethorpes and District Civic Society supported the application, stating it would be "an additional entertainment facility in the resort", according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

The zoo site has been vacant since it closed in 2022 due to high running costs. It was hit by a suspected arson attack in July 2024.

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