Four padel courts and cafe at St Peters Recreation Ground, Broadstairs

What was proposed

The application proposed four floodlit padel courts, a cafe, container units, outdoor seating, landscaping, cycle parking, access improvements and drainage works.

“PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT Planning permission is sought for the redevelopment of part of the existing Broadstairs Tennis Club to provide four outdoor floodlit padel courts together with associated ancillary facilities.”

“The proposal also incorporates associated operational development including cycle parking, refuse storage, hard and soft landscaping, boundary treatments, alterations to the existing parking arrangements, pedestrian access improvements and associated drainage works.”

Officer report

The site and its history

The site is part of an established tennis club in a recreation ground beside sports facilities, open space and nearby homes, with earlier permissions for a cafe and floodlights.

“The application site comprises part of the existing Broadstairs Tennis Club located within St. Peter's Recreational Ground, Callus Court Road, Broadstairs. The site forms part of an established recreational and sporting facility situated within a wider area of open space accommodating a range of outdoor sports and leisure uses.”

“The tennis club currently comprises a number of outdoor tennis courts together with associated hardstanding. The application site relates to an area of land within the tennis club grounds. The surrounding recreation ground accommodates a variety of sporting uses, including rugby facilities, with vehicular access taken from Callis Court Road.”

Officer report

What officers recommended

Officers recommended approval because the proposal would enhance community sport and its impacts on amenity, highways, ecology and drainage could be controlled by conditions.

“The proposal has generated a level of public interest, with concerns raised regarding the principle of development, loss of open grassed land, and the visual impact of the courts and floodlighting, noise and disturbance, residential amenity, parking, ecology and drainage. These matters have been carefully considered and have been assessed against the provisions of the National Planning Policy Framework, the Thanet Local Plan, the Broadstairs and St.”

“It is acknowledged that the proposal will alter the appearance of this part of the recreation ground and will result in an increase in activity associated with the expanded sporting use. However officers are satisfied that the development has been appropriately designed for its context and that the submitted technical assessments demonstrate that the impacts upon neighbouring residential amenity, highway safety, ecology, biodiversity and drainage can be satisfactorily…”

Officer report

What local people said

There were 15 objections, one supporting representation and a petition, with concerns including noise, parking, traffic, lighting, drainage, antisocial behaviour and visual impact.

“Letters were sent to adjoining occupiers, a site notice posted close to the site and the application publicised in a local newspaper. 16 representations were received; 15 objections and 1 supporting the application. In addition a petition signed by 10people was received. Some of the objections have written in on more than one occasion. The concerns of the objectors can be summarised as follows:”

“Noise concerns • Concern about whether the sewers can cope - and if anything happens to the drainage system, it is hoped TDC would cover the majority of the cost- due to increased usage • Concern about anti social behaviour • Parking impact • Traffic Impacts • Procedural fairness when notification were carried out - over Christmas • Light pollution • Concern about operating hours • Overbearing impact and visual amenity…”

Officer report

Who spoke

A member of the public spoke against the application, and the Principal Planning Officer outlined the proposal and officer assessment.

What members considered

Members considered deferring the application to seek amendments reducing impacts on neighbouring properties and information about the possible effects of glazing on bird species.

“Councillor Packman proposed and Councillor Boyd seconded to deferred to officers to seek amendments to reduce the impact on neighbouring properties and provide information on potential impact on bird species from the use of glazing.”

Minutes

The committee vote

The first motion was lost by 2 votes to 8, and the later deferral motion was agreed by 9 votes to 1 with no abstentions.

“When pout to the vote the motion was LOST.”

“When put to the vote the motion was AGREED.”

Minutes