News Beat
Plans for more Padel courts on Preston Farm Industrial Estate
Total Padel Solutions Ltd has applied for planning permission to install four more courts for the increasingly popular racket sport at the Opus Park site on the Preston Farm Industrial Estate in Stockton.
It says the proposals for an “extension to the established and highly popular padel facility” next door will bring five new jobs.
It plans to use an empty warehouse on Lockheed Close to accommodate the four new courts.
In a planning statement, Fahim Farooqui from agent Total Planning Solutions UK said: “The proposal is driven by demonstrable customer demand since opening of the Unit 1B facility, with the additional courts required to increase capacity, improve booking availability, and support the continued growth of the business.
“The expansion will create five additional jobs, alongside the existing employment already supported at the operational Unit 1B facility. The development will bring long-vacant commercial floorspace back into active use.
“The buildings are existing structures and the proposed development is primarily limited to internal fit-out works to accommodate the padel courts… The wider estate and nearby industrial areas also accommodate a range of established leisure and fitness uses.
“Each padel court would be enclosed, with a 3m and 4m clear strengthened glass wall part-way around the outside of the court. The fencing around the padel court is integral to the game of padel, and comprises black metal-framed screens, three to four metres high, with glass and metal mesh insets. The court would have a lighting on each corner.
“The proposal is an expansion of an existing padel complex next door, enabling a consolidated customer offer and efficient management/servicing… The proposed layout has 57 total parking spaces.
“The proposal will generate net economic benefits, including investment in fit-out works and the creation of five additional jobs, alongside increased activity and expenditure supporting nearby businesses within the estate.”
It adds that the proposal “responds directly to proven customer demand by expanding capacity within immediately adjacent vacant units, allowing the facility to operate efficiently as a single, integrated leisure hub.
The proposals involve minimal external works, preserve the established industrial character of the estate, and will not give rise to unacceptable impacts in terms of design, residential amenity, noise or disturbance.”
