A CHANGE of use for a warehouse in Higher Poole has been granted by Somerset Council giving the go-ahead for Wellington’s first every padel courts.

The decision to approve was made at the end of October by the Development Control Manager at the council under delegated powers.

Three doubles and one singles court will be available for use from 6 am to 11 pm every day of the year at the new facility which looks set to be open by January in the new year.

Five conditions have been set by the authority for the development to go ahead including regarding parking and ensuring “sufficient provision is made for off-street parking and turning of vehicles, in the interests of highway safety.”

Also, the change of use at the site is the “only permitted use” to safeguard the vitality and viability of the town centre. A further condition set by the council is ensuring that the cycle storage facilities included on the plan should be “constructed and fully provided prior to the buildings being in use” in the interests of sustainable transport.

The officers’ report and recommendation for the development states that “no suitable or available sequentially preferable sites” were capable of accommodating the panel court development in the local area, and the proposal “would not result in unacceptable impacts on highway safety, neighbouring amenity, landscape character, heritage assets, ecology or flood risk.”

It concludes the the provision of a new indoor recreational facility brings social, health and economic benefits to Wellington and the surrounding area.

Currently the 1,532 square metres of existing floorspace at Unit 2 at Poole Works Trading Estate is being used for the manufacture, storage and distribution of home furnishings.

As well as the proposed courts the facilities would also include changing rooms and toilets with space for parking for 31 vehicles and two accessible bays and covered cycle parking.

The nearest padel court facilities to Wellington are in Taunton to the east of the town, and in Exeter to the west.

Permission was sought to convert part of the warehouse on the Poole Works Trading Estate by planning agent Joanne Halton of Halton Planning Services in Dulverton, acting of behalf of applicant, Will Atkinson, a director of Exeter-based Floatkinson Ltd.

The company, set up last year to run sports facilities, had been searching for about six months for a suitable site and had not found any other available venue.

She said: “Padel is a hybrid of tennis and squash and is one of the fastest growing sports in Britain and globally.

“Padel courts provide a vibrant and enjoyable environment for friends and families alike.

“The courts will be wheelchair-friendly, ensuring people of varying abilities can enjoy the game on an equal footing.

“Recent statistics show the number of padel courts in the UK has more than doubled over the past few years.

“In response to this surge, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) have set a target of increasing the number of courts from 350 to 1,000 by 2026.”