There are moves to bring another padel court club to Gloucestershire. The Padel Club has identified The Festival Trade Park on the edge of Cheltenham as a potential site for four new courts.
It wants a change of use to Unit 11 at the junction of Runnings Road and Wymans Lane in Swindon Village. It’s part of a site used for commercial and industrial units, including Selco Builders Warehouse.
Each padel court can be used by four people at any one time and a planning statement from Cheltenham-based Zesta Planning Ltd said it would mean the capacity for the courts would be 16 people. Between ten and 12 people would be employed at the site if planning permission was granted.
The proposed hours of opening would be from 6am to 11am Monday to Sunday. No external changes to the building are proposed, the application to Cheltenham Borough Council says.
Kris Ball, CEO of The Padel Club said: “We have had a very successful launch of our Gloucester Quays club and as such, we are looking forward to expanding in the area and would love the opportunity to launch a club in Cheltenham. Subject to planning approval, a four court club in Cheltenham would make a great addition as we have lots of players who travel from the town to play Padel.”
The Padel Club is looking to open courts in Cheltenham
(Image: The Padel Club)
Padel courts in other areas have provoked concerns from neighbours about noise. But the application says the proposal for these courts is in an area surrounded by industrial and commercial properties.
The statement says: “The nearest residential properties are located over 100m to the east beyond unit 10 and Wymans Lane. As a result, they will not be impacted by the proposed change of use given the building is in place and changes would be internal to allow for the use as a padel court.
“The use of the building would also be for indoor sport and as a result, there would be no discernible impact on neighbouring amenity in terms of noise. It is therefore concluded that the impact of the proposed development would be minimal and would not result in any detrimental implications on the amenity of nearby neighbouring residential dwellings”
The Padel Club released these images ahead of the opening of its Gloucester courts
The application also says that if the padel court bid was backed, it would be supporting a business to expand and provide a wider development opportunity at the site. It would also provide opportunities for sport and physical activity.
There are also 27 car park spaces associated with the site and this is considered to be enough. The application suggests if it was used as offices, there would potentially be more car park spaces needed.
The application concludes: “The site is within a highly sustainable location within the edge of town centre location. The site is served by excellent pedestrian, cycle and transport links, and the site can be easily accessed via private car or public transport.
“There is sufficient off-road parking within the application site and the use of the unit for indoor sport would see the reduction in the demand and quantity of car parking than if the office were to be occupied and utilised as the approved office use.”
You can view and comment on the application here
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