Indoor padel courts at Torpoint Community College, Torpoint

Summary of planning committee decision

Decided by Cornwall Planning Committee on 9 Jul 2026.

PA26/00530Approved

The site and its surroundings

The site lies in the countryside south of Peldon, within a rural farm setting, and is accessed from Lower Road through Newpotts Lane.

“Site Description and Context 3.1 The application site is located some distance south of the Peldon settlement boundary, accessed via a significant length of driveway as seen in the above plan.”

“The site is accessed from Lower Road via Newpotts Lane and the nearest dwelling is “Englesbatch” some 600 metres to the north.”

Officer report

Earlier permissions

The building had permission for storage and distribution, while a 2025 lawful development certificate approved extensions and associated hardstanding.

“DC0901MWeV11 6.0 Relevant Planning History 6.1 242155 – Lawful Development certificate for proposed development of extension to existing commercial building and associated external work including formation of hard standing landings – Approved by Planning Committee…”

Officer report

Why officers supported it

Officers considered the proposal an appropriate small-scale rural leisure use that reused an existing building without significant external change or unacceptable impacts.

“Having regard to the statutory Development Plan as a whole and all other material considerations, it is considered that the proposal represents an appropriate form of rural diversification and re-use of an existing building.”

“Overall, the proposal is considered to represent sustainable development, making effective use of an existing building, supporting rural economic resilience, and providing a recreational facility without resulting in significant adverse impacts.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Environmental Protection raised no objection subject to conditions, the parish council had no objection, and the Highways Authority made no comment.

“Environmental Protection No objection subject to conditions to control hours of demolition/construction and hours of operation…”

“Highways Authority No comment as in relation to the application site, Newpots Lane is a Private road and non-maintainable Public Highway (not the responsibility of the Highway Authority).”

Officer report

Concerns from others

Representations raised concerns about employment, the access track, links to walking and public transport, earlier permissions and ecological information.

“Representations from Notified Parties 10.1 The application resulted in a number of notifications to interested third parties including neighbouring properties. The full text of all of the representations received is available to view on the Council’s website. However, a summary of the material considerations is given below.”

“Concerns regarding the loss of commercial use and employment • Concerns in relation to the existing access track and the lack of footway or connections to the local footpath network or bus stop services • Concerns regarding the previous lawful development permission and the application process • No preliminary Ecological Appraisal submitted with the scheme…”

Officer report

The committee decision

A councillor with a pecuniary interest withdrew, and the committee unanimously approved the application as recommended, subject to conditions.

“260305 New Potts Farm, Lower Road, Peldon Councillor Davidson declared a pecuniary interest as Director of the applicant company and recused himself for the item. The Committee considered an application for Change of use of Commercial Building to Class E (d) Leisure and Sport Padel Court. The application was referred to the Planning Committee because the because the owner of the site was a Colchester City Councillor.”

Minutes

Sources

  • Cornwall Planning Committee minutes, 9 July 2026
  • Agenda and papers (council website)

Source: Plota analysis of Cornwall's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.

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At the meeting

Council
Cornwall
Date
Thursday 9 July 2026
Recommendation
Officers recommended approval
Committee decided
Approved
Vote
Unanimous
Minutes
The council's minutes
Meeting
Agenda and papers (council website)

This committee's year

30 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 1 against officer advice.

Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.

Every decision by this council's committees →