Health and fitness club operator Esporta is to invest £100m in a rapid rollout of its racquets business, which could see a further 10 tennis clubs added to its UK portfolio.

CEO Neil Gillis said the company’s future lies in the development of racquets facilities: “Our racquets clubs are currently outperforming the rest of the industry as we saw a 23 per cent increase in these clubs in the first quarter this year.

“We currently have the highest number of courts per club – eight, versus an industry average of 5.5 – and we see enormous potential to open more Esporta racquets clubs in areas which are not currently well served by these facilities.”

The company will target the 61 per cent of the country which does not currently live within driving distance of indoor tennis courts and is due to open a club in Guildford in September.

Sites are also planned for Bath and Swindon in 2005, while a bid has been made on a site in Worcester.

Esporta is also working with a number of organizations to identify sites that meet its investment plans, such as Rugby Football Union clubs, which want to generate revenue for facility improvement and extra stand space.

Schools and colleges have been approached to establish partnerships and the company is talking to councils in areas where there is a lack of health and fitness facilities about developing strategic land holdings; which will generate both local benefits and commercial uses.

Esporta is currently working with Havant Borough Council to develop a regional sports hub, which will include Football Association youth training facilities, community sports uses including rugby and hockey, and a health and racquets facility.

The 70-acre site will be financed through public and private sector funding which will be secured through specialist consultants. Planning applications are expected to be made in spring 2005.