A registration system designed to support places to play tennis in a drive to increase membership, has been approved by the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) Council.

From October, indoor tennis centres, commercial clubs, park and school-based programmes and universities will no longer have to pay a fee to a County LTA for each member. Once the change comes into effect, facilities will pay a registration fee to County Associations based on the number of courts, which aims to help grow participation in the sport.

LTA president Derek Howorth said: "This is a very significant and positive change for British tennis. This new system will reward those places to play which increase their membership and get more people playing tennis, rather than ask them to pay more. "Tennis facilities will pay a fee on a per court basis, up to a maximum of 12 courts, and around 80 per cent of currently affiliated clubs will pay less as a result of the new system."

The new system will be adopted once rule changes are approved at a LTA EGM in September.