A new planning application has been submitted for the construction of three indoor padel tennis courts on a corner plot off Millbuck Way in Sandbach.
The site, currently used for commercial vehicle parking, has no existing buildings and is bordered by Millbuck Way to the north and east. An earlier application for light industrial units was approved on one August, but the latest submission argues that a leisure facility comprising padel courts would be an acceptable alternative and would not conflict with policies in the development plan.
The proposed building would include a reception area and male and female changing rooms on the ground floor, with a first-floor mezzanine viewing area. Secure internal cycle parking would be provided, along with 12 car parking spaces.
Operating hours would run from 7am to 10pm, with session times for each court staggered to reduce parking demand during changeovers. A minimum of one staff member would be present on site at all times.
The applicant is Jamie Knowlson of Wilmslow-based Padacre Developments.
The application reference is 25/3954/FUL. The consultation period ends on 20 November.
EXPLAINER
Padel is thought to have been invented in Acapulco, Mexico, by Enrique Corcuera in 1968, after he modified his squash court to incorporate elements of platform tennis.
Initially, the walls and the surface were concrete, so spectators could not watch the game. Over time, glass walls and artificial turf replaced concrete.
Padel was included in the 2023 European Games in Kraków, Poland. The International Padel Federation plans to have 75 national federations for padel to become an Olympic sport for the 2032 Summer Olympics in Brisbane, Australia.
Three padel courts can fit in one tennis court so many tennis clubs are converting tennis courts to padel courts as it is more profitable for business owners.
Doubles is the most common format. Serves are always underarm and the ball is hit below waist level. Balls that hit the walls around the court after bouncing on the ground are still in play.
Padel has the tennis scoring system with an optional exception of a “golden point” similar to “no-advantage” scoring used in some tennis doubles and exhibition matches. The golden point is used to determine a winner when the score reaches deuce during any game. As a blend of tennis and squash, padel offers a more relaxed and social environment than other racket sports. Padel is the second most popular participation sport in Spain, behind football. The Lawn Tennis Association said this year that there were 1,000 padel courts open across 325 venues in the UK, up from only 68 in 2019. A number have opened or a planned across this area.
