Sport · Salisbury
Salisbury Golf Centre to add floodlit padel tennis courts
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
Wiltshire Council has approved plans for four new floodlit padel tennis courts at Salisbury Golf Centre on Wilton Road.
Salisbury is set to gain its first dedicated padel tennis facilities following the approval of a planning application for four new courts at the Salisbury Golf Centre on Wilton Road. The decision by Wiltshire Council brings an end to a planning process that weighed the potential health and social benefits of the sport against concerns regarding noise, lighting, and traffic impact on the surrounding area.
Padel, a fast-growing racket sport that combines elements of tennis and squash, is typically played on an enclosed court featuring glass walls and metal mesh. The project is intended to provide a new recreational offering for the community, with the applicant noting that there is currently no comparable facility within Salisbury or the immediate vicinity.
Addressing local concerns regarding the noise profile of the sport, which planners identified as potentially creating sharp, impulsive sounds, the approved scheme includes specific planning conditions. These measures are designed to manage the impact of the courts on nearby residents. Environmental health officers determined that through appropriate controls on operating hours and lighting, the site remains suitable for the development.
The applicant has indicated plans to align the operating hours for the court lighting with the existing schedule of the driving range, which closes at 8 pm. In addition to the court construction, the project encompasses the creation of 17 new parking spaces, the installation of new footpaths, and landscape improvements.
The site's existing clubhouse facilities will be utilised by players, meaning no additional buildings are required for the development. Beyond the sports facilities, the project includes a biodiversity net gain component, featuring tree planting and the installation of bird and bat boxes. Planners described the project as a natural extension of the established sports complex, which already houses a golf course, cricket ground, and hockey pitches.
Source: Salisbury Journal — Salisbury · View original