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Search the Public Notice PortalPlans have been submitted to create nine floodlit padel courts on agricultural land at Blackburns Farm Nurseries and Wildlife Centre in Wrea Green.
The application seeks permission for seven double padel courts, including three covered courts, and two single courts, alongside an amenities building, car parking, drainage works, landscaping and biodiversity measures.
The site forms part of an agricultural field at the farm on Ribby Road.
According to planning documents, the scheme would involve the change of use of agricultural land to outdoor sport and recreation, with the courts accompanied by a building containing toilets, lockers, racket hire facilities, vending machines and waiting areas.
A new car park providing 36 spaces, including disabled and minibus spaces, is also proposed.
The applicant says the development is intended as a farm diversification project and argues that there is growing demand for padel facilities across Lancashire.
Planning documents state that court hire would be offered in line with Lawn Tennis Association guidance and that free weekly court access would be made available to pupils from Carr Hill High School and Pear Tree School, as well as community groups.
Supporting reports submitted with the application conclude that the development would not have an unacceptable impact on neighbouring properties.
A noise assessment carried out on behalf of the applicant considered a worst-case scenario in which all nine courts were operating simultaneously.
It concluded that predicted noise levels would remain below the relevant assessment criteria and that there was “no reason” for the proposal to be refused on noise grounds.
The nearest identified residential properties are more than 170 metres from the proposed courts.
A separate lighting assessment found there would be no significant impact on nearby homes from the proposed floodlighting.
The report concluded that there would be no exceedance of recognised lighting limits for the area and that the overall effect of the scheme would not be significant.
Ecological surveys were carried out between March and June.
The appraisal found the site’s main ecological value related to grassland, cereal crops, birds and brown hares, while potential value was also identified for foraging bats, nesting birds, amphibians and hedgehogs.
The report recommended mitigation measures including ecological supervision during construction, protection of habitats and the installation of bird and bat boxes.
The ecology report also stated that surveys found no evidence of reptiles, badgers or bat roosts on the site, while environmental DNA testing returned negative results for great crested newts in surveyed ponds.
The proposed development would deliver a biodiversity net gain of 22.2 per cent, according to planning documents, exceeding the statutory requirement of 10 per cent.
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Measures include native tree planting, new hedgerows, wildflower grassland and habitat enhancements for wildlife.
Consultation responses submitted so far include comments from the Lead Local Flood Authority, which said it had no comments to make on the application, and Sport England, which confirmed the proposal did not fall within its statutory remit and therefore it would not be providing a detailed response.
The application will be determined by Fylde Council at a later date.
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