26 April 2024 – plans now approved following committee meeting 24 April
October 2023 update – some two years since we first reported on this a planning application has been submitted on behalf of the organisation seeking to provide Padel tennis on land behind Leatherhead Leisure Centre.
If planning is approved, and this is a separate decision for councillors advised by planning officers, MVDC has already agreed in principle to lease the land which older residents may recall as a boating lake in the early years of the Leisure Centre.
Padel has gained tremendous popularity in the UK in recent years, yet in essence, it’s still a relatively new sport for most participants. Combining elements of tennis and squash, padel offers an exciting and social experience for players of all ages and skill levels
Tom Murray, Head of Padel at the Lawn Tennis Association (who have taken padel under their wing), says there were only 40 courts in the UK in 2019. Now there are 165 courts, with targets to have 250 by the end of the year and 400 by the end of 2023. Since you can fit three padel courts on the same space as one tennis court, it’s far easier to find places to put them
The planning application is in 29 September 2023 list and open for comments until 27 October
MO/2023/1445/PLA MAJOR
https://planning.agileapplications.co.uk/mole/application-details/124441
Leatherhead Leisure Centre, Guildford Road,
Fetcham, Leatherhead, Surrey, KT22 9BL
Construction of indoor sports facility comprising dome structure with associated parking and landscaping.
Planning Statement on behalf of the applicant (pdf) extracts below :
“SUSTAINABILITY AND ENERGY
…There are no indoor padel facilities in Surrey and none which are within the ease of access for players in the region. As such the scheme would deliver benefits all year round in a safe and inclusive environment.
The design of the air dome system means that it would be very low energy usage. Due to only limited building materials being used it is also not carbon intensive in terms of the construction. As such the scheme is a sustainable option in terms of delivering the benefits as listed earlier in this Statement.
ECOLOGY
The site has comprehensively been surveyed and detailed reports are enclosed by the Ecology Partnership. Bespoke mitigation has been provided for the protected species on the site or is otherwise accounted for and 10% biodiversity net gain has been achieved. As such the existing situation would be enhanced compared to the existing situation…
It is envisaged that the site would become a hub for padel in the UK, the construction of indoor courts is supported by the LTA. The introduction of a facility that can provide all-year-round activity would significantly enhance access to the sport, particularly for the local community. Given the emerging status of padel, establishing an anchor for the sport in Mole Valley and part of the wider Leatherhead complex provides an opportunity for local and Surrey residents to participate in a new sport in a state-of-the-art facility.
The applicant is a GB team player, there would be training camps for the GB team with outreach to local schools and the establishment of a local club, league, and lessons. From the outset, the vision for the centre is rooted in the local community and enabling the wider uptake of the fastest-growing sport in Europe.
Planning permission was granted on the basis of Very Special Circumstances for a padel facility in Bishops Stortford, on the basis of community benefit and access to sport. The appeal decision is enclosed as part of the application documents.
(iii) Sporting Facility
The facility would be the first purpose-built indoor padel centre in this region, it would be one of the largest in England. The client, the Padel School and other GB Padel members are integral to the design team to provide a facility that performs alongside other venues that are focused on the Middle East and Europe. The Lawns Tennis Association have also been involved and a letter in Appendix A notes their support for the proposal.
As can be observed from the submission documents, the proposed building would be an entirely bespoke air dome structure. It would feature 6 courts and associated infrastructure including offices, a gym and a pro shop. It would be the base for ‘The Padel school’ an internationally followed educational platform which is the largest in the world, amassing over 50 million views and teaching some of the biggest influencers in the world. A detailed letter is enclosed as part of Appendix B that sets out their intentions in terms of local engagement. The Padel School deliver world class education in padel and would create a dynamic offer which would be unrivalled.
It is envisaged that the facility would have significant outreach to the local community. This is largely owing to the fact it would be indoors and in a building of quality and facilities which can hold sports competitions at a suitable level. The benefits of the scheme rely on the courts being indoors, the dome structure affords a unique facility in the region that can deliver the benefits associated with sport. This is a significant consideration in the assessment of VSC.
As described above, the site would be open to the public and designed to enable wider sports participation. Local partnerships with organisations and schools to ensure that the facility is accessible for all would be created. Initial conversations with Surrey CC Active Sport on ensuring wide engagement have begun who were supportive of the scheme.
(iv) Economic Benefits
The scheme would result in positive economic benefits for the local economy in the construction phase and whilst it is in operation. Contract employment opportunities would arise during the construction phases and the scheme would generate both part and full-time jobs during its operation.
It is envisaged that the centre would attract visitors and stimulate tourism as a destination supporting Leatherhead and the wider district. Leatherhead would be home to one of the best padel schools and programmes – including ‘The Padel School’ which has global reach and attendees from Spain, Sweden, Argentina, France and UAE would visit to attend.
(v) Necessity of the air dome system
As detailed above it is the intention of the applicant to create a high-quality space that can be used all year round by both elite athletes, padel players across the region and local communities. The air dome system is a commonly applied solution for leisure facilities because sport often necessitates larger scale structures. In this regard, the air dome model is a viable means to deliver cover at scale which is essential for the facility to be successful in this circumstance.
The applicant was successful in their tender for the site partly since the scheme will be funded privately, all other bids relied on public funding. For this to be achievable the scheme needs to be able to host the Padel School, it needs to be of a high quality so that it attracts players to the courts. As such it is fundamental to the long-term success of the project and site that the courts are covered, this is only achievable through an air dome system.
Summary
As detailed above a series of VSC is set out in relation to this site. Sports facilities are an acceptable use in the Green Belt. The Council has awarded a tender to the applicant to develop a centre of excellence for padel in Mole Valley, the above provides clear and unequivocal VSC for the proposal.
DESIGN
The proposed scheme comprises an air dome system as shown on the accompanying drawings and documentation. CS policy CS14 (Townscape, Urban Design and the Historic Environment) and LP policy ENV23 (Respect for Setting) seek to ensure that new development is well designed and relates to context.
Context
The structures themselves are commonplace across the UK as an effective solution for indoor sports and delivering the benefits arising from leisure and activity. They are very typical in forming part of a wider sports complex such as the Leatherhead Leisure Centre site. As such it is considered an appropriate structure in this context, this was agreed by the LPA during the pre-application process….”
ARTICLE below PUBLISHED JUNE 2021.
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Some longer term residents may recall a Boating Lake behind Leatherhead Leisure Centre? And possibly a 1970’s visit from It’s a Knockout? Now, the disused area may be put back into use for an indoor tennis facility, subject to Councillors agreeing a lease. And separately, planning permission. New recreational facilities being a key objective as part of securing new infrastructure and promoting healthy lifestyles. And in this case use of disused land that Fusion have not made use of in their period operating the Leisure centre.
The Leatherhead Padel Club approached MVDC in December 2020, looking to take a long lease of the land in order to re-develop the site to build the first purpose built Padel Club & courts in the UK. Padel is the fastest growing racket sport in the world combining elements of squash, tennis and badminton. It is fast paced and exciting, easy to learn and participate in, as well as being challenging at the higher levels. Padel is currently played by circa 12 million people, can be played in singles and doubles either indoors or outdoors.
Item 12 – Letting of Land to the Rear of Leatherhead Leisure Centre (Former Boating Lake)
There will be a discussion and likely an agreement to the recommendations at the MVDC Cabinet Meeting on 22 June 2021. Two of the Leatherhead North councillors are part of the Cabinet and the project sponsor at Cabinet is Cllr Keira Vyvyan-Robinson.
There is we understand a padel court at Beaverbrook for resort users there.
Leatherhead Living 