Padel court sports facility at Building A, 5 Stroud Road, East Kilbride

“The proposal would involve the conversion of the main warehouse space to form 5 full-size padel courts and two half-size courts, together with a reception and café space, and elevated viewing platform. The section of the office block forming part of this proposal would be converted from office space to provide changing rooms, toilets, and ancillary office accommodation.”

“The works proposed by this application have already been carried out on site, and the padel court sports facility is already operational. This application is, therefore, submitted in retrospect. Retrospective applications are assessed in the same manner as any other planning application.”

“Site Description 2.1. This application has been submitted in retrospect and relates to a site located within Kelvin Industrial Estate, East Kilbride. The building to which the application relates consists principally of a large metal clad storage section, with a smaller attached two- storey office block, adjacent to the vehicular access.”

“The surrounding land uses are generally industrial/commercial in nature, including plant hire and commercial vehicle repair businesses to the immediate south and east of the building, which share the same vehicular access from Stroud Road.”

“Relevant Planning History 4.1. There are no other recent planning applications relating to the application site. The surrounding area has seen a variety of planning applications, mostly relating to the redevelopment of industrial/storage sites and ancillary developments relating to renewable energy and telecommunications.”

“Enforcement investigations are also ongoing in relation to other potential changes of use in the area which do not appear to have applied for the relevant planning consent.”

“It is noted that no information has been provided to demonstrate that the site was subject to any active marketing for Class 4, 5 or 6 uses, those which would generally be more acceptable within this Industrial Estate. In addition, the loss of this large warehouse building would have an adverse impact upon the quality and availability of marketable industrial land supply, with a particular impact due to the size and scale of this existing large warehouse.”

“The only conclusion that can be drawn from this is that the proposal would represent an unjustified loss of marketable industrial land supply. In addition, no information on the long-term management and maintenance of the facility has been provided, and the ancillary uses (café and viewing platform) appear to be of a scale that would be likely to attract further activity beyond the use of the padel courts alone.”

“Consultations 6.1. Roads Development Management – have offered no objections to the proposal as the existing access would be utilised and sufficient off-street parking is available, as shown on the submitted drawings. Mobility/disabled spaces should be marked and 4 covered cycle spaces should be provided. Response: Noted. Matters relating to car and cycle parking provision could be controlled by conditions on the decision notice, if appropriate.”

“Health and Safety Executive (HSE) – have advised against the development as there are sufficient reasons on safety grounds for advising against the granting of planning permission in this case. Response: Noted. It is understood that the neighbouring site was formally used for an industrial process which was deemed to be a hazardous installation. In the event that consent was minded to be granted for the site, a referral would need to be made to the Scottish Government.”

“Representations 7.1. Following the statutory period of neighbour notification and advertisement, no valid letters of representation have been received in connection with this proposal.”

“There followed a discussion on the application during which an officer responded to a member’s questions on aspects of the report.”

“The Committee decided: that planning application P/26/0128 by It's Padel for the use of an industrial/storage warehouse as a padel court sports facility with associated alterations (retrospective) at Building A, 5 Stroud Road, East Kilbride be refused for the reasons detailed in the Executive Director’s report.”