Trent Alexander-Arnold built padel tennis court without permission

England star Trent Alexander-Arnold has been caught offside over a £50,000 padel tennis court at the bottom of his garden – which was built without planning permission.

The Liverpool defender – who’s set to play a key role in the Three Lions’ bid of Euro 2024 glory – could be forced to demolish the court over fears that noisy games could lead to a volley of complaints from neighbours.

Concerns have also been raised over the impact of the unauthorised development on the countryside.

Alexander-Arnold – who is dating Jude Law’s actress and model daughter Iris – bought the £5million five-bedroom Cheshire mansion from former Manchester City star Raheem Sterling in 2022.

The luxury five-acre property already boasts a swimming pool, cinema, games room, bar, wildlife pond and paddock.

While work began more than two years ago it’s only now that Alexander-Arnold, 25, has put in an application for retrospective consent for the court which is enclosed by glass panels and lightweight black painted steel columns.

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He has agreed to tear down four floodlights and has hired landscape specialists to plant trees and hedges to provide screening, in his bid to keep it.

The footballer needs permission for a ‘change of use’ of the land as the court lies in a field outside of his garden boundary, and in designated open countryside.

But the local parish council have objected and raised concerns about players kicking up a racket and disturbing locals in the quiet village where neighbours include former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson.

Parish clerk Emma Bambrook said: ‘No consideration has been given to the noise generated.’

She added of the development: ‘It is essentially a change of use of land and extension of the curtilage into the open countryside.

‘It is acknowledged that policy allows an exception for ‘development that is essential for the purposes of outdoor recreation’. However, the application gives no reason why this development is ‘essential’.

‘Exceptions will only be allowed if ‘it can be demonstrated that a countryside location is necessary for the proposal’. There is no justification in this application as to why this is ‘necessary’.

‘In this case, the padel court appears to be for private use only, so there are no public benefits.’

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The Campaign to Protect Rural England agreed with the parish council’s ‘well-argued objections to this application’.

They said: ‘A padel court for private use in no way justifies an intrusion into the open countryside surrounding a village.

‘Settlement Boundaries must be respected if our countryside is to be preserved.’

Padel tennis is said to be the world’s fastest growing sport and garden courts are becoming the ultimate outdoor status symbol for the country homes of the rich and famous.

The all-action game – which originated in Mexico – is a cross between tennis and squash, usually played in doubles pairings on an enclosed court about a third of the size of a tennis court.

Players are allowed to use the glass walls surrounding the court as long as the ball bounces first.

A host of A-list celebrities have taken up the game which is particularly popular with the world’s top footballers.

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It was given the royal seal of approval after it emerged Prince William and his wife Kate are hooked on the sport.

They have been spotted playing fiercely competitive matches with friends on courts close to their Windsor home.

Courts must be built with planning permission with developers responsible for obtaining consents.

The Lawn Tennis Association advises that ‘careful consideration of the location of proposed padel courts should be given in relation to the impact of noise and light on adjacent residential properties’.

Planning documents show that construction work to build the court began in March 2022 which is believed to be before Alexander-Arnold bought the property.

The footballer’s planning agents say the court is ‘generously distanced’ from nearby properties.

They say there are ‘no unacceptable impacts on the character and appearance of the area’ and that there would be ‘a net benefit as a result of the proposed scheme in landscape and visual terms’.

As part of Alexander-Arnold’s case, planning agents cited the successful appeal of a landowner in Buckinghamshire who was allowed to keep a padel court they built without planning permission.

In a statement to the council, the England star’s planning agents said: ‘The proposed development comprises a modestly sized padel court.

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‘The court provides an outdoor sport and recreational facility for the occupiers of the house.

‘The key consideration is whether the proposed development would result in unacceptable harm to the amenity, character and appearance of the area.

‘The glass panels and metal framework for the padel court is not visible from the road and there is no visibility from any public right of way in the area.’

Pop star Shakira, Hollywood actor Antonio Banderas, supermodel Elle Macpherson and rapper Stormzy are among celebrities who have championed padel tennis.

Top footballers Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and David Beckham have also become hooked on the sport.

Brazilian legend Neymar is so passionate he has had two padel courts built in the grounds of his sprawling mansion in Rio de Janeiro.

And Alexander Arnold appears to be following the lead of former boss Jurgen Klopp who had a court installed at Liverpool’s training ground and has concentrated on improving his game since quitting the club last month.

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But not everyone is such a big fan.

Downton Abbey actor Jim Carter complained the game – which is played with solid rather than stringed racquets – generated ‘explosive noise’.

Objecting to plans by a local girls’ school to build a new court within earshot of his north London home two years ago, Carter described padel tennis as ‘an aggressive game with associated aggressive levels of sound from players and equipment’.

Carter, 75, said noise levels bore little resemblance to those created by players of traditional tennis adding: ‘A brief visit to the public courts at Regent’s Park or Hyde Park reveals that the heavy sound of a padel ball on bat and on side panels drowns out the sounds of tennis.’