Plans for new padel centre at University of Lancashire take step forward & more details are revealed

Plans for a new padel centre at the University of Lancashire have taken a step forward.

Back in March, the university announced its intention to create community padel courts in Preston in partnership with firm Soul Padel.

At the time they revealed plans to install four padel courts at the University’s Sports Arena, on the site of two tennis courts close to the reception.

They also said that the courts would be made of tempered glass and artificial grass whilst coming equipped with a canopy roof and floodlights to ensure year round use.

Work may soon be getting underway on the proposal as last week, a planning application was finally submitted to Preston City Council.

The plans have not shifted from the university’s inital announcent, save for the addition of a clubhouse.

Permission has specifically been sought for “4no. outdoor padel tennis courts with canopies and 1no. single storey building to be used as associated padel tennis courts clubhouse facility”.

The applicant, Soul Padel, has also revealed some more information about the facilities.

Namely that the courts will be open 6am to 11:00pm seven days a week, measure 20m x 10m each and be placed on the hard standing of the existing tennis courts they are to replace.

The new clubhouse is then set to be formed from a modified 40ft shipping container and contain a reception desk, accessible toilet, coffee bar with a seating area and storage facilities.

In the Planning, Design and Access Statement, Soul Padel, confirmed that the courts will be available to be used by both university students and the local community.

They also confirmed that the development will have no impact on access, parking, trees and hedges or the remaining two tennis courts next to the development.

Explaining why they hope permission is granted “at the earliest opportunity”, Soul Padel concluded: “The development will deliver social, economic and sustainability benefits by enhancing the universities recreational offering and supporting the University of Lancashire Sports Arena through a diversified range of sporting facilities.

“It is considered that the designated ‘University of Central Lancashire Cottam Campus’ is an appropriate location for the proposed development and is in line with the spatial strategy outlined in the PLP. [Preston Local Plan]

”The proposed development also complies with all other relevant policies in the PLP and CLCS [Central Lancashire Core Strategy] with regard to design, residential amenity, highway safety and ecology and is therefore acceptable in terms of all other material planning considerations.”

Speaking back in March, Jimmy Khan, Head of Sport and Active Wellbeing at the University of Lancashire, said: “We’re excited to hopefully welcome Soul Padel to our Preston Campus as part of our commitment to supporting innovative, inclusive sport.

“These four courts would enhance our sporting offering for every student and staff member, but they would also help us going forward when British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS), the UK’s national governing body of university sport, adopts padel as an official sport. By having padel courts here at the University, we can create a competitive team who will be able to test themselves against other universities.

“In addition, these new facilities would provide a fun way for our local community to get active and socialise.”