Plans lodged for padel courts at Lancashire sports site

The proposal would see a 1,140 sq m area of woodland between Moorland Tennis Club and Poulton-le-Fylde Golf Club transformed into a new padel facility, complete with floodlighting, a reception area, parking spaces and cycle storage.

The site is currently occupied by a strip of self-seeded woodland and grassland which has developed since the early 2000s.

The proposed site plan (Image: Wyre Council)

An ecological assessment states the scheme would require the removal of all woodland within the development footprint, including a mature oak tree and a mature multi-stemmed lime tree.

According to planning documents, the development would include two enclosed padel courts, a repurposed 20ft shipping container to act as a reception area, eight parking spaces, three cycle stands, customer seating and new landscaping featuring five native rowan trees.

The courts would operate from 6am until 11pm, seven days a week, and would be illuminated by 16 LED floodlights mounted on columns around six metres high.

Planning consultants acting on behalf of the applicant said the scheme would be a logical extension of the area's existing sport and leisure facilities.

Their statement says: "The proposal would provide a new outdoor sports facility within an existing recreational complex, making use of a location already characterised by tennis, golf and leisure activities."

A noise assessment submitted with the application concluded the development would not create unacceptable disturbance for nearby residents.

Surveyors found the nearest home is around 85 metres from the proposed courts and separated by existing leisure facilities.

The report stated that while padel noise could be audible at times, it would not result in any significant adverse impact because of the site's existing background noise levels and neighbouring sporting uses.

Meanwhile, an ecology report found the woodland is not a priority habitat and that trees on the site offer negligible potential for roosting bats.

No invasive plant species were recorded and badger activity was considered unlikely.

However, the woodland and grassland were found to provide habitat for nesting birds and hedgehogs.

Ecologists have recommended that tree felling and vegetation clearance take place outside the bird nesting season where possible, while habitat clearance should be carried out gradually to allow hedgehogs to move away safely.

The assessment also notes that because the site measures just 0.114 hectares and does not affect any priority habitat, the proposal is exempt from mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain requirements.

Wyre Council previously provided pre-application advice indicating no objections in principle to the development, subject to detailed consideration of matters including ecology, parking, drainage and residential amenity.

A decision will be made by Wyre Council at a later date.