Four covered padel courts at Basildon Sporting Village, Basildon
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Basildon Planning Committee on 18 Feb 2026.
What was proposed
The application sought two covered floodlit courts, a canopy over the existing outdoor court, associated works and longer weekend opening hours.
“Planning permission is sought for the installation of two additional covered, floodlit padel tennis courts, the construction of a new roof canopy over the existing outdoor court, and associated alterations, along with an extension to the weekend opening hours from 8:00pm to 10:00pm for the existing padel tennis facility.”
“The proposed courts would measure 20 metres long by 10 metres wide and be enclosed by 3 to 4 metre high glass and weld mesh walls. The overall site is enclosed by mesh fencing at 2.75 metres height. The proposed steel roof canopy structures will comprise a double vault curved roof design, approximately 8 metres high by 22 metres wide with durable fabric walls and roof covering. The new roof canopy over the existing court will be approximately 12.2 metres by 22.72 metres.”
Officer report
The site and surroundings
The facility is a council-owned sports and leisure centre containing padel courts and other sports facilities within Gloucester Park.
“Basildon Sporting Village is a modern sports and leisure centre located on the south side of Cranes Farm Road, north end of Gloucester Park, Basildon. Basildon Sporting Village is a Council-owned facility operated under contract by Sports and Leisure Management (SLM) who are responsible for the day-to-day operation of the centre, operating under the brand of Everyone Active.”
Officer report
Earlier site approvals
Earlier permissions covered the sports facility, other sporting facilities, a clubhouse, a temporary doctor surgery, padel courts and a golf practice facility.
“RELEVANT PLANNING HISTORY 2.6 Application No. Proposal Decision Date 08/00241/OUT Construction and use of a sports and leisure facility (D2) with ancillary uses, including cafe, creche, sports shop and office space together with 12 outdoor netball courts.”
“Granted 03.10.2024 24/01496/FULL Golf Pod Practice Facility with x10 covered bays, synthetic "outfield" of 30m x 30m and netting 30m from the bays. Details include native wildflower seeding for Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)”
Officer report
Consultation responses
Highways and Sport England raised no objections, environmental health supported the hours condition, and the arboricultural officer accepted the replacement hedging.
“(Officer Note: A condition is attached to this planning application, as detailed in Condition 3 below.)”
“Arboricultural Officer - There will be some vegetation requiring removal to allow the development, but this is mainly hedging and of low amenity value. New replacement hedging will be planted.”
Officer report
Residents’ views
No third-party representations were received during consultation.
“- No third party representations received.”
Officer report
Members’ discussion
Members identified no reason to refuse and welcomed the additional courts because padel was popular.
“Members could see no reason not to approve the application, recognising that padel sports were now very popular and that additional courts would be a welcome addition to the Sporting Village.”
Minutes
The committee’s decision
The committee resolved to grant planning permission subject to the report’s conditions.
“That Planning Application No. 25/01588/FULL be granted planning permission subject to the conditions set out at the end of this report.”
Minutes
Sources
- Basildon Planning Committee minutes, 18 February 2026
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Basildon's committee minutes and officer report. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Committee
- Basildon Planning Committee
- Council
- Basildon
- Date
- Wednesday 18 February 2026
- Recommendation
- Officers recommended approval
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Basildon committee decisions →
This committee's year
23 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.