Indoor padel centre at Part Of Unit, 1 3 Cook Way, Peterlee

What was proposed

The application sought to convert storage and distribution space into an indoor padel centre with 12 courts, seating, offices and changing areas.

“1 Full planning permission is sought for the change of use of the property to an indoor Padel Court with 12 courts proposed consisting of a mix of double and single courts.”

“8 Consent is sought to change the use of the property to an indoor padel court which will have 12 courts with a seating area, office and changing areas. Parking is also located to the front of the site.”

Officer report

The site

The site is an industrial unit surrounded by industrial and E uses, with parking at the front and no special environmental designations.

“6 The application site is a large industrial unit currently in use as storage and distribution (Use Cass B8). It is located on Cooks Way which is located within the North West Industrial Estate in Peterlee. The site is surrounded by other industrial and E use classes. A large area to the front of the site is in use as parking.”

“7 The site does not lie within a Coal Mining High Risk Area, Conservation Area or any other designations and is within the Environment Agency Flood Zone 1 which means it has a low probability of flooding.”

Officer report

Consultation responses

Consultees raised no objections, while six public letters supported the proposal and no Ward Member comments were received.

“23 The application has been advertised in the local press, by site notice and individual notification letters sent to 18 neighbouring properties. To date 6 letters of support have been received with the following comments:”

“24 No comments from Ward Members have been received.”

Officer report

Who spoke

The Senior Planning Officer presented the report and answered Members’ question about parking and restricting the use.

Members’ discussion

Councillor J Elmer described the application as positive and asked about possible issues; officers identified parking as the only highways concern.

“The Chair thanked the Senior Planning Officer and asked Members for their comments and questions.”

“Councillor J Elmer noted that the application looked entirely positive, it being very rare that an application before Committee had no objections and asked if there were any issues Members should be aware of.”

Minutes

The vote

Councillor J Elmer moved approval, Councillor A Schulman seconded it, and the minutes recorded the resulting resolution.

“Councillor J Elmer moved that the application be approved as per the Officer’s recommendation, he was seconded by Councillor A Schulman and upon a vote being taken it was:”

Minutes

The committee’s decision

The committee approved the application subject to the conditions set out in the officer report.

“That the application be APPROVED, subject to the conditions as set out within the report.”

Minutes

Key conditions

Conditions restrict the premises to an indoor padel centre, require noise mitigation, provide cycle and electric-vehicle facilities, and control construction hours.

“Notwithstanding the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended) (or any revocation and re-enactment of that order), the premises shall be used only as an indoor padel centre and for no other use contained within Use Class E of the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order 1987 (as amended) (or any revocation and re-enactment of that order) and shall revert back to a B8 (Storage and distribution use) should the use cease.”

“The proposal shall be carried out in accordance with the mitigation measures outlined within the Noise Impact Assessment prepared by Smash Padel North East Ltd dated 14 June 2026 and shall remain in place for the lifetime of the development.”

Officer report