Blackpool Council planners issue decision over plans for padel tennis courts at South Shore Tennis Club

The scheme is set to see four courts, changing rooms and a spectator area built at South Shore Tennis Club on Midgeland Road. It will mean the loss of existing croquet pitches, but there is enough land at the site for these to be moved.

A planning application, submitted in January this year, had received 65 letters of support with planners approving the proposal using their delegated powers.

Padel tennis is a mix between tennis and squash played on a court one-third the size of a tennis court and enclosed to a height of four metres by walls usually made from glass.

A report setting out the decision said local planning policies supported "development that encourages healthy and active lifestyles and increases community access and participation, with reduced need to travel".

"It is informative on the latter point that a number of representations make reference to the growing popularity of the sport of padel and whilst noting the presence of facilities at Lowther Gardens in Lytham, a relatively short 4.8 miles from the application site, the supportive comments also make reference to those facilities being outdoor and often booked," it added.

"The provision of an indoor facility would be usable all year around. It is also of note that Sport England has raised no objection and has advised that the Lawn Tennis Association support the proposal.

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"As such, the loss of the existing croquet courts does not represent a reason for resisting the application in principle and it is noted the site would retain a significant amount of open space where croquet courts could be recreated."

While the loss of open green space "would be regrettable", the council said the new building would be at the rear of the existing indoor tennis court and so would not harm the character of the Marton Moss Conservation Area.

It was suggested trees should be used to increase screening along the hedge to the west of the site. Planners also said there was no reason the scheme would result in increased noise.

Proposals also include widening two existing accesses to the existing car parks and improving the surface of one of the car parks including providing formally marked-out parking bays.