Two padel tennis courts at Oxshott Village Sports Club Sports Ground, Oxshott, Leatherhead

What was proposed

The application proposed replacing an existing tennis court with two padel courts, eight floodlights, minor ground works and a four-metre acoustic fence.

“Reference Description Decision 2025/2157 Single-storey front extension, rear infill extension, rear canopy and alterations to fenestration Granted 2024/3300 Tree Preservation Order EL:99/17 - T1 oak - Reduce the canopy by 2 - 2.;5 metres back to vigarous growth points Dimensions after pruning H 18m - w 10M To improive stability and reduce the risk of limb failure in a high target area. T2 + T3 Oak x 2 Prune back from the neighboring properties by approximately 2.5 metres.”

“2018/0447 6m high floodlights to existing tennis courts 8 and 9 Granted 2015/0059 Provision of a new tennis court and use of an inflatable dome Withdrawn 2007/0398 Variation of conditions attached to 1993/0199, 1998/0321, 1999/1025 and 2001/2707 to allow the use of floodlighting on courts 2-7 until 9.30pm Refused and Appeal Dismissed 2006/1989 Variation of conditions to planning applications 1993/0199, 1998/0321, 1999/1025, 2002/1218 and 2005/0245 relating to the trees…”

Officer report

The site

The site is part of a sports club with bowls, cricket, petanque, tennis and padel facilities behind nearby residential roads.

“The site contains the Village Sports Club with a bowls club, cricket pitches, petanque terrain and several tennis courts including padel courts. The site is located to the rear of the dwellings to Steels Lane, Oakshade Road, Ridgeway Close, Lyfield and Webster Close, located in the settlement of Oxshott.”

“The application site comprises of an existing tennis court at the Village Sports Club, located in the north-west corner of the site.”

Officer report

Why officers recommended approval

Officers considered the revised acoustic barrier, noise evidence and management plan would avoid unacceptable noise harm and improve the overall sound climate.

“With regard to this application, the applicant has submitted an amended scheme which includes altering the location and amount of proposed acoustic fencing to mitigate the harm from the noise of the courts (it is now proposed to wrap around the courts on their north, west and south sides, where as previously it was primarily located on the northern side of the courts).”

“It can be seen from the results for the mitigated option with a 4m extensive barrier that an overall improvement of the noise levels is expected with the proposed layout of two additional padel courts. It is also observed that a noise reduction of ambient and maximum noise levels is predicted at most of the residential properties around, and not increasing of the existing noise impact is observed at any noise sensitive receptors.”

Officer report

Advice and public comments

Council teams and Sport England raised no objection subject to conditions, while residents submitted 28 supporting letters and 13 objections.

“Council’s Environmental Health Officer – no objection subject to conditions supported by expert advice.”

“There have been 28 letters of support, and 13 letters of objection have been received. The applicant has also submitted a rebuttal to the received objections. All comments are summarised below as follows:”

Officer report

Who spoke

The applicant addressed the sub-committee on behalf of the application.

What members considered

Members reviewed the material planning considerations before deciding the application could proceed despite an earlier decision notice being issued in error.

“As part of his introduction the Planning Officer explained that following an administrative error, the decision on the application had already been issued to the applicant on 28 November 2025, prior to it being determined by the Sub-Committee. Whilst noting that this had been an unfortunate error, he explained that officers had considered that the application was still able to be determined by the Sub-Committee.”

Minutes

The decision

The sub-committee permitted the application with the agenda conditions and informatives, subject to an amended noise mitigation condition.

“Permit with the conditions and informatives as outlined in the agenda, subject to the following amended condition.”

“Noise mitigation strategy Prior to first use of the hereby permitted padel courts, the scheme, titled ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE IMPACT ASSESSMENTSPORTS ENGLAND ‘DESIGN GUIDANCE CRITERIA’, Ref: SA-8035-4 dated August 2025 conducted by Sound Advice Acoustics Ltd and its mitigation measures shall be fully implemented in accordance with the approved details.”

Minutes

Noise condition

The amended condition requires testing with all four padel courts operating and further mitigation if the required sound insulation is not achieved.

“Before first occupation, post-completion testing shall be carried out to ensure that the sound insulation values have been achieved whilst all four padel courts are in use. If the post completion testing establishes the sound insulation values have not been achieved then the applicant shall undertake any additional required mitigation, and once complete this should be tested and confirmed to meet the sound insulation values until agreed by the Local Planning Authority in…”

Minutes