Indoor padel court facility at Unit 10 Iron Business Park, Blackburn
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Blackburn Planning and Highways Committee on 16 Oct 2025.
What was proposed
The application proposed changing a vacant warehouse into an indoor sports facility with an ancillary café, new entrances and 42 parking spaces.
“Proposed development: Full Planning Application for Proposed change of use of existing warehouse (class B8) as an indoor sport facility with ancillary indoor café (class E(d)). Addition of new entrance and exit openings to front elevation.”
“Following the receipt of amended details on the 25 th and 30 th September, the proposal seeks full planning permission for the change of use of an existing warehouse building (use class B8) to an indoor sports facility (use class E[d]) with ancillary café facility. In addition, the proposal seeks to provide alterations to the front elevation to facilitate pedestrian access to the building, along with changes to the existing parking.”
Officer report
The site and surroundings
The site contains a large warehouse in a mixed commercial and industrial area, near a drinking establishment, district centre and residential uses.
“The site contains a large warehouse building (use class B8), constructed in the early 1980’s, providing 2410m 2 of floor area. The unit is currently vacant. Access is provided via a dedicated internal road linking to Great Bolton Street. Parking areas abut the principal elevation and along the access route.”
“The locality is of mixed character, with other commercial and industrial uses adjoining the site to the southwest and northwest. The Railway Club, a drinking establishment, also adjoins the eastern edge of the application site, albeit on a raised parcel of land. The Bolton Road District Centre is also in close proximity to the south of the application site.”
Officer report
What officers recommended
Officers recommended approval because the proposal supported planning objectives, suited the mixed locality and could address technical matters through conditions.
“Detailed assessment finds that the development corresponds with the Council’s strategic and development management objectives of the Local Plan 2021-2037. The proposed conversion of the building would not conflict with the mixed uses of the locality. All technical issues have been addressed through the application or are capable of being controlled or mitigated through the application of planning conditions.”
Officer report
Comments from neighbours
Twelve individual properties were consulted, and no comments or objections were received.
“Public Consultation: 12 individual properties have been consulted by letter and site notices displayed. No comments or objections have been received.”
Officer report
The committee decision
The committee approved the application subject to the conditions highlighted in the directors’ report.
“Decision under Town and Country Planning Acts and Regulations –”
“RESOLVED – Approved subject to the conditions highlighted in the Directors Report…”
Minutes
Sources
- Blackburn Planning and Highways Committee minutes, 16 October 2025
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Blackburn's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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- Council
- Blackburn
- Date
- Thursday 16 October 2025
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
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- Blackburn committee decisions →
This committee's year
26 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.