Plans have been unveiled to build five outdoor padel courts at the old Bathampton Station site.
Padel is similar to squash but played with a solid racquet. Originally from Mexico, it has boomed in popularity in recent years, but there is currently nowhere to play it in Bath, despite previous attempts which have been thwarted by noise concerns.
The proposal for land off Station Road at Bathampton has been lodged with Bath & North East Somerset Council by Smash Padel.
A planning statement with the application says: “Given that the site is located adjacent to railway tracks, where noise levels are already substantial, and that it doesn’t lie within close proximity of any residential properties, it is considered that the proposal will not adversely affect the amenity of any neighbouring occupiers.”
Bathampton Station opened in 1857 and closed in 1966.
The site lies within the Green Belt and Cotswolds National Landscape. The access is within the designated Bathampton Conservation Area and also forms part of the Hampton Rocks Cutting Site of Special Scientific / Site of Nature Conservation Interest.
The planning statement says: “The site comprises land that forms part of a redundant commercial site on the north-eastern edge of Bathampton.
“The last lawful use of the site is understood to have been a timber yard and railway station. At present, the site is disused and falling into a state of disrepair.”
It adds: “The proposal presents an excellent opportunity to introduce this hugely popular sport to Bathampton, providing one of only a limited number of padel facilities in the wider area.”
Demand for such facilities is said to be growing, particularly for venues to accommodate quality coaching: “This is especially important for two young Bath residents who are elite athletes and currently have to travel considerable distances, notably to Smash Padel in Bicester, to access the high-level of coaching that they require.”
Each doubles court will be 20 metres by 10 metres. The courts will be sheltered by lightweight canopies with curved roofs, each rising to a maximum height of nine metres.
The scheme also includes a single-storey pavilion and toilet facilities housed in repurposed shipping containers.
The existing access off Station Road will be used and 16 parking spaces are proposed, including three for disabled users, and four for electric vehicle (EV) charging. There will also be eight cycle parking spaces.
Following a pre-application enquiry, council planning officers had flagged up that whilst the principle of development could be considered acceptable, the design would need to respond appropriately to the constraints, and the scale of the development, ability to provide lighting and hours of use would likely be limited by the landscape and ecological sensitivity of the site.
The application submitted says the scheme has been carefully designed to ensure it does not result in substantial harm to the Green Belt, and that all relevant planning, environmental, and technical constraints have been identified, assessed, and appropriately addressed.
There will be landscaping and dark automatic temporary curtains along the sides of the courts to manage light spill and glow during hours of darkness.
To achieve the required 10% gain in biodiversity units, some off-site units would need to be purchased.
The planning reference is 26/00259/FUL. The deadline for comments is 23rd March.
Smash Padel already has sites in Taunton, Eltham, Bicester, Oxford, Cardiff, Mid-Sussex and Whitstable, with another one proposed in Acton, subject to planning consent.
